Women's Basketball | 12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Lindsborg, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s basketball team could not overcome a slow start as the Bethany College Swedes defeated the Bulldogs 77-65 Saturday night at Hahn Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Bulldogs enter the Holiday break 4-7 overall and 1-3 in KCAC action, while the Swedes improve to 3-9 and 1-3 in conference play.
Two Swedes scored over 20-points in the effort. Cathy Wade led all scorers with 27-points, while fellow Swedes Jade Pihl tallied 21 on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, including 9-of-10 from the free throw line.
Kristen Ozbun paced the McPherson offense with 16 points on seven field goals (7-of-29), including two from beyond the three point arch (2-of-9). Sophomore Brooke Weisenburger chipped in 13, including a team leading seven rebounds in the effort.
The Bulldogs forced the Swedes into 12 turnovers, using most of those opportunities as they posted a 17-9 advantage in points off turnovers. However, the Swedes connected on 22-of-25 trips to the free throw line, while MC converted just 11-of-17 chances.
McPherson hung with the Swedes for much of the evening, as they pulled the game within four points, 65-61 with 1:14 left in the game. After failing to tie that game at the free throw line, the Swedes connected on eight straight free throws to pull away.
The Swedes got out to a quick start, connecting on 5-of-6 three pointers to propel themselves to a 26-12 lead with 10:20 left in the first half. McPherson pulled the lead back to six, 33-27 with four minutes left in the half, but the Swedes answered with six consecutive free throws. The Bulldogs found themselves down 40-29 at the end of the first half.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first, as the Swedes extended their lead to 14 behind to Wade field goals. McPherson would pull the lead to single digits, but were unable to overcome the disadvantage.
McPherson shot just 32.9 percent from the field in the game and made only 6-of-28 three-pointers. The Bulldogs were whistled for 22 fouls, compared to just 16 by the Swedes, as Bethany attempted nine more free throws than MC.
The Bulldogs return to action after the Holiday break on Monday, Jan. 4 against Columbia College. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the McPherson Sport Center.
