Women’s Basketball Falls on the Road to Ottawa Ahead of Conference Opener
OTTAWA, Kan. — Graceland University women's basketball dropped its final non-conference road matchup of the early season, falling 85-63 to undefeated Ottawa University on Wednesday evening at Wilson Field House. The loss moves the Yellowjackets to 1-4 overall, while the Braves improve to 3-0.
Graceland stayed competitive throughout the first three quarters but struggled to close in the fourth, getting outscored 25-13 in the final period. The Yellowjackets shot 35.3% from the field, including 7-of-32 from three-point range, and committed 21 turnovers, while Ottawa used a more efficient 46.2% shooting clip and a 19-12 assist advantage to control the pace late.
Maxine Ampofo led the Yellowjackets with 19 points and nine rebounds, going 8-of-18 from the floor. Nateonia Russell recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Oliviya Tinoco added 13 points, shooting 3-of-9 from deep.
Graceland opened strong, trailing just 22-18 after the first quarter and closing the gap to six at halftime. The Jackets briefly cut the deficit to four midway through the third following back-to-back buckets by Ampofo, but Ottawa responded with an 11-3 run, capped by a three-pointer from Clare Williams, who finished with a game-high 23 points.
Ottawa's post presence proved critical, with McKinley Kruger posting 19 points and 11 boards, while Ashlynn Arnsman added 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting. The Braves dominated the free-throw line, hitting 17-of-24 attempts (70.8%) compared to just 8-of-19 (42.1%) for Graceland.
"We competed in stretches, but our inability to sustain possessions and take care of the basketball made it tough to get into a rhythm offensively," head coach Willie Scott said. "I liked our energy early, and we had great looks from three — we just didn't convert at a high enough rate. We're learning, and these road tests are valuable heading into conference."
Graceland won the rebounding battle, 46-41, and held a slight edge on the offensive glass (16-8), with Russell and Ampofo combining for eight offensive boards. However, the Jackets' 21 turnovers frequently led to transition opportunities for Ottawa, which converted them into 17 points.
Also contributing for Graceland were Ianara Morbidoni, who tallied 6 points and 7 rebounds, and Sophia Rodriguez, who added 6 points, 3 boards, and 3 assists. Brooklyn Davis chipped in 3 points off the bench on a 1-of-1 effort from beyond the arc.
Graceland's shooting woes from the free-throw line persisted, as the team's 42.1% mark continued a trend from earlier games. Through five contests, the Jackets are averaging just 58.6% at the line.
Despite the outcome, Coach Scott expressed optimism about the growth of his team's young roster.
"We're continuing to build our identity," he said. "Every game, we're learning more about what it takes to win at this level. Our rebounding effort tonight was strong, and we're going to carry that grit into conference play."
Graceland University will return to action on Saturday, November 15 at 2:00 p.m. CST, when the Yellowjackets open Heart of America Athletic Conference play against Missouri Valley College. The matchup will take place at the Morden Center in Lamoni, Iowa, marking the Yellowjackets' home conference opener.
For more information on Graceland women's basketball and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.