William Penn Women Hot from Perimeter in Wire-to-Wire Victory

Posted on February 1, 2018 by KBOE Administrator

Cedar Rapids–Guided by one of, if not the best three-point efforts in school history, the Statesmen women’s basketball team blitzed Mount Mercy 83-59 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Wednesday.

WPU (16-5, 10-2 Heart) won its third-straight contest by going 13-for-19 (68.4{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}) from behind the arc and shooting 62.5{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} overall to complete the season sweep of the Mustangs (6-17, 3-9 Heart). The win, coupled by losses to Baker and Benedictine, leaves just William Penn and MidAmerica Nazarene atop the Heart standings at 10-2.

It is the fourth different winning streak of at least three games this year for WPU.

The teams traded buckets in the opening minute, but then the navy and gold tallied 10 unanswered and led 16-5 after the first period.

Another 10-0 run in the second quarter pushed the edge to 20 points and the rout was on; the visitors eventually went ahead 40-17 by the break.

After shooting only 29.2{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} in the first half, MMU warmed up to 55.6{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} in the latter half (43.1{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b} overall), but the Statesmen were even hotter at 66.7{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}. WPU missed just once from deep following intermission, going 7-for-8 (87.5{99cd714f394079a7f0ed2eb1518dd31342ff3ceb5b6c267c3ad8acd5b5a7d66b}).

William Penn was Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of ‘on fire’, led by Kate Ylitalo (So., Maple Plain, Minn., Biology) finishing 7-for-9 overall and 5-for-6 from beyond the arc. The sophomore led all scorers with 19 points.

As incredulous as it may seem considering Ylitalo’s stats, Jenna Santi (Jr., Oak Creek, Wis., Elementary Education) was even more efficient at 5-for-6 (3-for-3 3-PT; 2-for-2 FT) to tally 15 points. The junior also dished out 10 assists to post a double-double.

Sarah Hansen (Sr., Kewanee, Ill., Psychology and Human Services) was not left out of the mix, knocking down half of her eight trifectas en route to 12 points.

Contrary to how her teammates found success, Vashti Nwagbaraocha (Jr., Milwaukee, Wis., Exercise Science) did great work inside for 12 points, while Tyra Johnson (Jr., Calumet City, Ill., Undecided) joined the double-digit scene as well with 11 points off the bench.

Both Nwagbaraocha and Johnson, as well as JeAnn Hiraldo (Sr., Frisco, Texas, Industrial Technology), pulled down five rebounds apiece as WPU topped Mount Mercy 33-22 on the glass. Johnson also matched Ylitalo with a pair of steals.

Morgan Neeley (Sr., Flint, Mich., Exercise Science) sunk seven free throws in the waning minutes to contribute seven points as well.

William Penn overcame three more turnovers (19-16) than Mount Mercy.

“I thought we played as a team tonight, led by five players in double figures,” Head Coach Steve Williamson said. “Our defense set the tone to start the game and we built from there. In addition to our starters, we received a great contribution from Tyra Johnson off the bench. We still need to learn how to play a complete game, but I thought we played really well tonight.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Saturday to face Graceland in Heart action at 2 p.m.

William Penn and KMZN/KMYQ to Partner for Basketball Broadcasts

Posted on November 30, 2017 by KBOE Administrator

Oskaloosa–William Penn Athletics Director Nik Rule is proud to announce that the University has entered into an agreement with KMZN/KMYQ to broadcast radio coverage of all the men’s and women’s basketball Heart of America Athletic Conference games this winter.

Beginning with tonight’s home doubleheader against Mount Mercy (5:30 & 7:30 tipoffs), KMZN 99.5 FM and 740 AM will serve as the flagship stations for all Statesmen basketball radio broadcasts, both at home in Penn Gymnasium and on the road. KMZN/KMYQ Sports Director Emery Songer will be the ‘Voice of the Statesmen’, while Kiley Broadway will provide color commentary for most contests.

Listeners in Sigourney, Keota, Kalona, North and South English, Williamsburg, Wellman and Washington can also hear the games simulcasted on the company’s newest station, KMYQ 97.1 FM. The games will be broadcast over the internet at www.radiokmzn.com as well.

The entities have been partners for numerous years for William Penn football broadcasts.

“We are excited to partner with the team at KMZN/KMYQ to be the voice of William Penn Athletics and cover our conference basketball games this winter,” Rule said. “Many of our teams are among the best in the nation in small college athletics and we look forward to having the leader in radio in our community broadcast our games.”

“Here at KMZN/KMYQ, we are all excited about the opportunity to serve as the flagship stations for the William Penn University Statesmen,” KMZN/KMYQ General Manager Rick Watts said. “I am certain that our listeners, both over our airwaves as well as online at radiokmzn.com, will welcome the opportunity to tune in to this exciting coverage.”

The additional KMZN/KMYQ radio broadcasts will be a supplement to the video broadcasts which WPU already offers to fans at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/wpu/

Defense Headlines Homecoming Win For William Penn Football

Posted on October 2, 2017 by KBOE Administrator

Oskaloosa–The William Penn football team kept another opponent under the century mark in yards as it defeated Avila 34-7 in a Heart of America Athletic Conference North-South Crossover game Saturday.

The Statesmen (4-2) wrapped up crossover play by outgaining the Eagles 419-96. It is the second time this fall that WPU has kept an opponent below 100 total yards (Central Methodist only had 64 yards two weeks ago). The victors ran 86 plays, compared to just 48 by AU (2-4).

WPU moved near the Eagles’ redzone in its first possession, but could cash it in. The hosts did not squander their second chance with the pigskin, though, as a short field resulted in a quick touchdown. The hosts went 27 yards in four plays, capped by a one-yard plunge by Nate Van Veldhuizen (Jr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering).

The defense then forced a three-and-out–one of seven on the day–and then the offense went back to work. William Penn marched 59 yards on nine plays and nearly doubled the advantage (failed two-point conversion) as Brandon Polito (Sr., St. Louis, Psychology) darted in from five yards out. Polito tallied 61 rushing yards Saturday.

The Statesmen then hit an offensive lull in the second quarter, entering intermission ahead just 13-0. At halftime, three new members were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame, including Steven Dawley (football), BG Campbell (men’s golf), and Brian Theobald (baseball).

William Penn did not add to its tally with the opening drive of the second half, but the next possession did result in seven more points. The squad capitalized on another short field (33 yards away) and Tyler Wood (So., Newton, Iowa, Education) located Cory Fitzjarrell (Sr., Anderson, Calif., Industrial Technology) for a three-yard pass-and-catch to up the advantage to 20-0 midway through the third quarter.

Wood finished 4-for-10 for 45 yards in the victory, but was also intercepted twice.

The Eagles failed to move the ball yet again and were set to punt, but the kicker failed to make contact with the ball as a crew of Statesmen flooded towards him. The loose ball was scooped up by Graham Carnahan (Fr., Cottonwood, Calif., Biology) at the 11-yard line, and Van Veldhuizen then made his way into the endzone five plays down the road to extend the margin to 27-0.

WPU was one period away from posting its first shutout in nearly four years, but Avila broke it up on the first play of the fourth quarter on a long punt return for a score.

The Statesmen answered right back, however, with a nine-play, 67-yard scoring drive that ended with Van Veldhuizen once again putting the ball across the goal line, doing so from 13 yards away. The junior collected 53 yards on the ground. He also became the first player to have a three-touchdown game since he himself accomplished the feat on September 17 of last year against Central Methodist.

The home team ended the win with arguably its best drive of the day, holding onto the pigskin for the final 7:18; the drive ended with the Statesmen mercifully kneeling in the redzone.

Though he did not score, Wood was by far WPU’s best rusher with 22 carries for 101 yards. The winners went off for a season-high 374 rushing yards. Backup quarterback Eric Cooper (Sr., Aguanga, Calif., Human Services) added 40 yards on just six rushes, while five other ball carriers had at least 20 yards each Saturday.

Four different players recorded a reception with Tyler Phillips (Jr., Altus, Okla., Physical Education) having the longest haul of 16 yards.

Both teams turned the other over twice with Rashaad Ollie (Fr., Foley, Ala., Sports Management) intercepting a pass in the third quarter. Mason Wisse (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Physical Education), who also had a sack, and Resean Coleman (So., River Rouge, Mich., Exercise Science) topped the incredible defensive effort with seven tackles each.

“This was a great win for our team, highlighted by a tremendous defensive effort,” Head Coach Todd Hafner said. “Our offense played with a great attitude as well. We will take this week to heal and get ready for the conference portion of our schedule.”

Next Up: William Penn has a bye next week and then travels to Canton, Mo. on October 14 to face Culver-Stockton in its Heart North Division opener at 1 p.m.

Story by Wade Steinlage, WPU Sports Information Director

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