FULTON, Mo. – Despite leading after each of the first three quarters, the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team was unable to hang on in the fourth to secure an upset on the road at (RV) William Woods University (21-5, 15-5 AMC) Saturday afternoon. The Owls squeaked out a 74-70 win over the Spartans, who shot 51.9 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range.
 
Unfortunately for MBU (10-14, 10-10 AMC), one factor counterbalancing the efficient shooting was 28 turnovers, which in turn resulted in 26 points for the Owls.
 
Leading the charge offensively for Missouri Baptist on Saturday was freshman guard Taylor Norris, who finished one point shy of her career high (29). While the Salem, Mo. native had an off day at the free-throw line, she more than made up for it from the field (9-of-17) and 3-point range (5-of-7).
 
Norris' freshman teammate Alexis Allstun also had an efficient day down in the post, converting on eight of her 10 shot attempts for 18 points. Her recent streak of double-doubles stayed intact with an 18-point, 10-rebound performance against the Owls. Allstun has recorded a double-double in four consecutive games and is averaging 15.7 ppg and 11.2 rpg during that stretch.
 
MBU had the upper hand in the earlygoing and led 20-13 at the end of one. However, the momentum began to fade at the end of the period including a 1 and ½ minute lull without a field goal.
 
The coldspell trickled over into the second quarter and marred an otherwise impressive start to the game. Including the 1:35 at the end of the first, MBU went 7 minutes and 19 seconds without scoring. William Woods capitalized with 14 unanswered points to regain the lead at 25-20.
 
Taylor Norris ended the MBU drought with a triple at the 4:16 mark and then hit another big three with less than five seconds remaining before halftime. With Norris' 3-pointer, the Spartans took a slim 1-point lead into the locker room (31-30). The underclassman group of Allstun, Norris and Nicole Griesenauer combined for 25 of the Spartans' 31 points in the first half and were 4-for-5 from long range.
 
On paper, the third quarter was all over the map for MoBap. The Spartans hit on 70 percent of their shots (7-for-10) and converted their only 3-point attempt, but were unable to break away from the Owls. Nine turnovers in the quarter didn't help the cause. Like the end of the second quarter, MBU still led by one.
 
William Woods saved its best 10 minutes of offense for the final period outscoring MBU, 27-22. The Owls' top scorer Kaycee Gerald was the main thorn in the Spartans' side as she scored 12 of her game-high 31 points in the fourth quarter.
 
MBU will have a quick turnaround before it's three-game week as it hosts St. Louis College of Pharmacy on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. before heading to Walnut Ridge, Ark. and Henderson, Tenn. to take on Williams Baptist and No. 12 Freed-Hardeman.