Women's Basketball | 1/24/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Salina, Kan. – Despite four Bulldogs finishing in double figures and a 12-point halftime lead, the McPherson College women’s basketball team was defeated by No. 22 Kansas Wesleyan University, 85-71, Saturday night at Mabee Arena. With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 4-14 on the year and 1-9 in conference action. Senior guard Kristen Ozbun led MC with 19 points.
The Bulldogs opened the game on fire with a 14-5 run, capped by a Carley Sharp hook shot in the paint. McPherson’s pressure defense held the Coyotes scoreless for nearly five minutes early in the first half.
Kansas Wesleyan cut the MC lead to five, 17-12 on a Chelsea Freed three-pointer with a little less than 10 minutes left. However, five straight points from sophomore guard Brooke Weisenburger and a running jumper from Ozbun pushed McPherson’s lead back to 12, 24-17.
The Coyotes would not go away pulling the lead back to six, 26-20 with a little over five minutes left in the period, but the Bulldogs answered again. This time behind Ozbun who scored six of McPherson’s next 13 points. MC entered the locker room with a 39-27 lead.
In the first half, the Bulldogs connected on 16-of-30 (53.3 percent) attempts, including a 5-of-8 (62.5 percent) from three-point range. Ozbun led all scorers with 13 points, while Weisenburger added 10.
McPherson’s defense held the Coyotes to only 36.0 (9-of-25) percent shooting in the first 20 minutes, including 29.4 (5-of-17) percent from beyond the three point arc.
However, the second half was not as friendly to the Bulldogs. After each side traded baskets over the first five minutes of the second period, Kansas Wesleyan’s offense exploded with a 25-7 run, giving KWU a 70-58 lead with seven minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs battled to pull the Kansas Wesleyan lead back to 11, 73-62, on a Michelle Ducy two point basket, but the Coyote offense proved to be too much down the stretch.
In the second half, KWU connected on 64.3 (18-of-28) percent of attempts from the field, including 61.5 (8-of-13) from downtown.
For the game, McPherson shot 43.3 (26-of-60) percent from the field, including 42.9 (9-of-21) percent from beyond the three-point line. The Bulldogs forced 13 Coyote turnovers, but were out rebounded 41-30.
Ozbun scored a team-high 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. The junior guard added a team-high three assists to go along with four rebounds. Other Bulldogs in double figures included Weisenburger (16), Ducy (11) and Sharp (11). Sharp led the team with six rebounds.
Kansas Wesleyan was led in scoring by LaCole Wilkinson and Stephanie Frost, who both finished the game with 21 points. Babcock added 19 points, while Santee chipped in 13.
McPherson is back in action on Thursday, Jan. 28, against Ottawa University. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Ottawa, Kan.
