ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team wrapped up its season series with William Woods on Saturday and once again came out on the wrong end of the win-loss column. The visiting Owls (15-7, 11-5 AMC) defeated the Spartans 70-58 and extended their series win streak over MBU to seven games.
 
In the earlygoing, passive defense allowed William Woods to get off to a 7-2 run. However, the tides turned for the Spartans as they climbed back in the game and went on to outscore the Owls 15-7 before the quarter's end. Junior Megan Fassino, who led the Spartans with six in the first quarter, got to the charity stripe six times converting on four of them.
 
The second period started out much like the first with William Woods seizing the lead back within the first two minutes. From there, the Owls didn't look back. Kadesha Cooper knocked down a 3-pointer at the 4:44 mark to close within a point of the Owls, but that was the closest Missouri Baptist would get for the remainder of the game. The Spartan offense went MIA and was held scoreless for the rest of the half.
 
At the break, Cooper and Fassino had eight points apiece and accounted for the two-thirds of the Spartans' offense.
 
Coming back from the half, MBU's offensive woes continued. One of the bright spots continued to be Kadesha Cooper. Cooper, recorded six of the team's 12 points, while the rest of the team shot 3-for-14 (.214) in a low-scoring quarter. The offensive struggles leaked over onto defense as the Owls scored 20 in the quarter and extended their lead to 20 by the end of the period.
 
The Spartans were able to cut into the sizeable deficit in the fourth, but unfortunately it was too large to overcome.
 
The last time the two teams met, William Woods edged Missouri Baptist in a down-to-the-wire 77-74 decision. In December, the Owls were led by a 34-point performance from Peyton Greenlee. This time around, the Spartans slowed down Greenlee to 12 points and 9 rebounds, but saw Kaycee Gerald go off for 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
 
With multiple players out due to injury, a deep bench was not in the cards on Saturday. In fact, the MBU starters were responsible for all but eight of the points against the Owls.
 
Kadesha Cooper was the scoring leader for the Spartans for the third time in four games. She finished the afternoon with 17 points on 6-of-15 shooting from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while pulling down six boards. Alissa Rowden chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal, while fellow upperclassman Megan Fassino (10 points, 4 rebounds) reached double figures for the third time this season.
 
Missouri Baptist continues its homestand with a three-game week beginning on Tuesday. The Spartans re-scheduled game with Park is set for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., followed by Central Baptist and No. 22 Lyon on Thursday and Saturday.