Women's Basketball | 1/29/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Ottawa, Kan. – Ottawa came out as the aggressor in the second half, forcing 10 Bulldog turnovers and hitting 53.1 percent from the floor, including 47.1 percent from beyond the three-point line to eventually pull away for a 86-76 victory over McPherson on Thursday night at Wilson Field House.
The Braves posted the third highest field goal percentage against the Bulldogs this season while improving to 3-8 in KCAC play and 4-17 overall. McPherson fell for the 10th straight game, dropping to 1-10 in league action while falling to 4-15 on the season.
For the third straight game, McPherson got off to a fast start, as Kristen Ozbun scored eight of the Bulldogs first 17 points to take a 17-9 lead with 11:56 left in the half. Ottawa pulled the lead back to one, 17-16, but an old-fashioned three-point play from Jacee Coberly pushed McPherson back to four, 20-16.
With both offenses clicking in the first half, neither side could gain ground on the other as McPherson entered the locker room with a two point, 38-36 halftime lead. McPherson connected on 45.7 percent (16-of-35) of attempts, but turned the ball over 10 times. Ozbun paced the offense in the first half with 14 points and six rebounds.
Ottawa opened the second half with its offense firing on all cylinders, converting 7-of-11 field goals, including 3-of-4 from beyond the three-point arc to tie the game at 55 with 12:57 remaining. Ottawa continued its hot shooting as Misty Stone extended the Lady Brave lead to seven, 68-61.
A Carley Sharp putback followed by a Michelle Ducy three-pointer cut the Lady Brave lead to two, 68-66, but a three-point basket from Paige Gibson halted the McPherson run.
The Bulldogs would once again bring the deficit within three, but Ottawa was too good at the free throw line down the stretch, extending their lead to 10, 86-76 at the final buzzer.
McPherson finished the game hitting a season-high 50.0 percent from the field, including a near season best 71.4 percent from the free throw line. Ottawa’s 46.3 percent put them in rare company as they almost became just the second team to shoot better than 47 percent from the field against McPherson.
Junior guard Kristen Ozbun, the only Bulldog in double figures, led McPherson with 27 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three-point range. Along with scoring, Ozbun grabbed a team-high seven rebounds in the loss.
Five Lady Braves ended the night in double digits, led by Misty Stone with 21 points. Others included Maggie Hasenkamp (17), Paige Gibson (12), Kiki Smith (10) and Myah Sprew (10).
McPherson returns home for the start of two home games when they play host to Tabor College on Saturday, Jan. 30. The game will tip off at 5:00 p.m.
