ST. LOUIS – As American Midwest Conference play resumed on Saturday afternoon, the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team was hopeful that it could shake a seven-game losing streak against William Woods and gain sole possession of seventh place in the AMC standings. Unfortunately, that didn't come to fruition as the visiting Owls (9-4, 4-4 AMC) used a big third quarter to pull away from the Spartans, 76-60.
 
With the loss, Missouri Baptist (3-9, 3-5 AMC) will look to snap the eight-game skid versus William Woods when they visit Fulton, Mo. next month on Feb. 15. The Owls are now winners in 24 of the last 26 matchups dating back to 2009.
 
It was the same pair of Owls on Saturday – Kaycee Gerald and Peyton Greenlee – who gave MBU troubles the last time the two squads met back in January of 2019. This go-around, Gerald and Greenlee torched the Spartans for 48 points.
 
While the Owls trotted out a squad returning 95 percent of its scoring from last year, the Spartans turned to a group made up of primarily newcomers. The main storyline in the first two quarters of play was the outstanding play of freshmen Kaylynn Hayden, Alexis Allstun and Taylor Norris. The freshman trio accounted for 31 of the Spartans' 37 first-half points.
 
MBU was well within reach of the Owls and even grabbed a 37-36 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the half before WWU's Rylie Cox answered on the next possession with a triple of her own. The Spartans trailed by just two points at the break.
 
The narrow margin began to fade away in the third quarter and the Spartans eventually reached a double-digit deficit with just over 2 and ½ minutes left in the third. William Woods capitalized on nine MBU giveaways in the third period receiving 16 of its 20 points from guards Peyton Greenlee and Tori Nesslage.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Missouri Baptist gained some momentum with an 8-1 run to get within seven, however, that was the closest the Spartans would get.
 
MBU rode the hot hand off the bench turning to freshman forward Kaylynn Hayden throughout the contest. The Lutheran High School North product shattered her previous season high of 8 by leading all MBU scorers on Saturday with 20 points. Hayden was a large contributor to the Spartans' 40 points in the paint, shooting 6-of-10 from the floor and 8-of-12 from the free-throw line.
 
Joining Hayden in double figures was fellow freshman Alexis Allstun. The 6-1 center from Jackson, Missouri was one rebound shy of her second double-double going for 16 points, 9 rebounds (5 O, 4 D) and 2 blocks. After scoring 7 points in the first half, Taylor Norris was limited to just one bucket in the final 20 minutes and finished with a stat line of 9 points, 3 steals, 2 assists and 8 turnovers.
 
Other notable performances included Kimberley Shaw with 6 rebounds, 2 points and 2 assists and sophomore Nicole Griesenauer with a team-high 3 assists.
 
The Spartans return to the hardwood on Tuesday at St. Louis College of Pharmacy to begin a busy three-game week. Williams Baptist and No. 9-ranked Freed-Hardeman visit the Petty Sports & Recreation Complex on Thursday and Saturday next week.