Women's Basketball | 1/22/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker Thursday night, as they were defeated by Bethel College, 64-63, at the McPherson Sport Center.
The loss is McPherson’s six straight in KCAC play, moving the Bulldogs record to 4-13 overall and 1-8 in the league. Bethel improves their record to 8-9 and 5-4 in KCAC action.
McPherson dominated through the opening 20 minutes, extending their lead out to as many as 17 points, 37-20 with 3:15 remaining in the half. Bethel pulled the lead back to 12 after a couple of baskets, but McPherson answered with five straight points from Kristen Ozbun to push the lead back to 17, 42-25 at the break.
The Bulldogs shot 48.6 (18-of-37) percent from the field, including 40.0 (4-of-10) percent from beyond the three-point arc. Junior guard Kristen Ozbun led the McPherson attack with 18 first half points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. Senior forward Carley Sharp was the next closest Bulldog with seven first half points.
However, the second half was a completely different story for McPherson. Bethel opened the second half with a 10-0 run, which cut the McPherson lead to single digits, 42-35.
McPherson’s shooting struggles continued as they connected on only two field goals over the next five minutes. The lack of scoring from the Bulldogs allowed Bethel to cut the McPherson lead down to three, 48-45 with 11:44 left in the game.
Bethel would eventually tie the game, 55-55, with a little over five minutes remaining. The two sides traded baskets the rest of the way with Bethel connecting on too many free throws down the stretch for the Bulldogs to overcome.
McPherson finished the game 22-of-65 (33.8 percent) from the field.
Ozbun ended the night with a season high 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field. She also chipped in four rebounds, five steals and one assist in the effort. She was the only Bulldog to reach double figure scoring.
McPherson returns to action Saturday night as they travel to Salina, Kan. to take on the Kansas Wesleyan University Lady Coyotes. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
