FULTON, Mo. – The way the Missouri Baptist University women's basketball team kicked it into overdrive in the second half, one would never know that the Spartans were playing their third game in a four-day stretch. Nevertheless, MBU overcame a nine-point deficit at halftime and shot 64% in the second half to defeat William Woods University on the road, 75-68.
 
In addition to keeping an unblemished record on the road this season, the red-hot Spartans won their sixth game in a row and improved to 10-4 overall and 6-2 in the AMC. The 6-2 mark in conference pushes MBU into a tie for second place with (RV) Columbia College.
 
Thursday's triumph also marked the Spartans' first win in 10 tries against the Owls, a drought that dated back all the way to Dec. 3, 2015.
 
Despite a quick start for MoBap and a slim 1-point lead after one, William Woods rose to the occasion in the second quarter outscoring the Spartans, 23-13. The Owls were the benefactors of a monster first half from guard Natalie Thomas, who proved to be a thorn in MBU's side the entire evening. The Mexico, Mo. freshman scored 21 of her game-high 27 points in the first two quarters, knocking down five 3s.
 
Trailing 36-27 at halftime, Missouri Baptist regrouped during the break and developed a plan for shutting down William Woods' Natalie Thomas. In fact, the Spartans held the Owl freshman star without a field goal in the third quarter and to just six points after halftime.
 
Sophomores Alexis Allstun, Lauren Ebert and Taylor Norris did all MBU's scoring in the third quarter combining for 24 points. Ebert scored 9 on three treys, Allstun continued to dominate the paint with 8 points and Norris pitched in the other 7 points.
 
Even though the Spartans erased the deficit, the two teams jockeyed for position at the beginning of the fourth. Once again, it was the 3-point shooting of the Spartans that got the ball rolling. MBU took the lead for good at 56-53 on a Rose Wassef three and not long after got two more triples from the Lakeland, Fla. senior for safe measures.
 
Alexis Allstun finished one point shy of her career high with 23 points. She was 10-of-12 from the floor with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. Taylor Norris picked up where she left off Tuesday, with her second straight 20-point outing. This time around, Norris had an extremely efficient day at the office shooting 66% (6-9) from the field, 50% (2-4) from 3-point range, 75% (6-8) from the FT line and had 7 assists to just 1 turnover.
 
Other top performers included Lauren Ebert with 14 points and a team-best 4 threes, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, Rose Wassef with 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals, and Joelle Atkins with a team-high 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
 
Next up for the Spartans is No. 18-ranked Lyon College in Batesville, Ark. on Saturday.