COLUMBUS, Miss. -  A cold shooting effort made for a long night for The W women's basketball in a 66-54 loss to Spalding University in a St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) contest at Pohl Gym. The Owls (1-7, 0-2 SLIAC) hit just 22 percent from the floor in falling to the Golden Eagles (4-5, 1-1 SLIAC).
 
Despite its rough shooting night overall (15-of-69), MUW managed to keep the visitors within a single-digit lead, trailing Spalding at the half, 28-22. But the Owls continued to have third quarter woes, hitting just 2-of-15 field goals (13 percent) in the period, allowing the Golden Eagles to extend their lead to double figures, which they maintained the rest of the game (leading by as many as 22 points at the 3:17 mark of the third).
 
The W was not able to stop SU in the paint, in terms of scoring or rebounding. The Golden Eagles held a 38-to-8 advantage on scoring inside, as well as outrebounding the Owls by a 63-37 margin.
 
Fantasia Wilson led The W offense with 16 points, buoyed by an 11-for-16 game from the fee throw line. Wilson dished off a team-high five assists and also made three steals.
 
After a slow start in the first half – with just two points - senior Conley Langford heated up in the second to finish with 13 points, hitting 4-of-17 from the floor and 3-for-12 from beyond the arc. She also grabbed six rebounds and had three steals.
 
Senior transfer Mia Bowen was MUW's only other double-digit scorer, finishing with 11. Bowen was 4-for-12 from the floor and hauled in a team-best eight rebounds. The NCAA III national leader in blocked shots, Bowen added three more rejections versus the Golden Eagles.
 
The MUW defense forced Spalding into 24 turnovers. The Owls had 17 steals as a team, led by Tamara Ross' four thefts. Ross also chipped in four rebounds and a block.
 
The W will look to regroup on Saturday (December 6/1 p.m.) at home versus Greenville University.