The Culver-Stockton women's basketball team overcame a 19-point second half deficit to defeat William Penn University 77-74 Tuesday night at Charles Field House.

The victory was the the third straight for the Wildcats, who improve to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. William Penn drops to 1-7 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Like in Saturday's victory over Baker, C-SC started quickly and led 22-18 after one quarter. The Wildcats shot 56 percent in the quarter, making two of its three 3-point attempts and both free throws.

However, the Wildcats made just five field goals, including one 3-pointer, in the second quarter and the Statesmen took advantage to grab a 42-33 halftime lead. 

The deficit ballooned to 60-41 with three minutes to play in the third quarter before the Wildcats  reeled off a 10-2 over those final three minutes to get back to within the original nine-point deficit they faced at halftime.

The momentum at the end of the third period carried over to the fourth quarter and the Wildcats started the final 10 minutes with a 15-5 run, taking a 68-67 lead on a basket by Elizabeth Reed with 5:47 to play.

C-SC was able to keep the lead within three points for the rest of the period before the Statesmen tied the game on a basket with 54 seconds remaining.

After a timeout by William Penn, the Wildcats worked the shot clock down and senior Olivia Hopp drove and gave the Wildcats 75-73 lead on a layup with four seconds left on the shot clock and 28 seconds on the game clock.

On the ensuing possession, the Statesmen drew a foul on Katie Webb with 10 seconds left, seeing Alyssa Hames to the free throw line. She made the first attempt but missed the second and the Wildcats grabbed the rebound and got the ball to Misora Nambara who was fouled with six ticks left and the Wildcats leading 75-74.

Nambara made both free throws and the Statesmen failed to get a 3-point attempt off as the buzzer sounded to give C-SC the victory.

Nambara scored 17 points, including 12 in the second half, to lead five different Wildcats in double figures. Katie Webb added a douboe-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Avery Oetting garnered 14 markers. Reed and Elly Bentley rounded out the double figure club with 10 points each.

The Wildcats are scheduled to be in action next Tuesday, Dec. 3, when they travel to Dubuque, Iowa, to face Clarke University. Game time is slated for 5:30 p.m.