Women's Basketball | 12/3/2010 2:01:42 PM
Game 11: McPherson College (2-8, 0-1) at Ottawa University (2-7, 0-1)
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010 | Wilson Field House | Ottawa, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
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The Matchup
The McPherson College women’s basketball team (2-8, 0-1) travels to Ottawa, Kan., for a matchup with the Ottawa University Braves (2-7, 0-1) on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 5:00 p.m. A radio broadcast of the game will be provided by 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio with an audio stream provided at www.macbulldogs.com.
McPherson enters the weekend looking to snap a three game winless streak following the Bulldogs 71-43 defeat against No. 10 Kansas Wesleyan University Thursday evening. The Bulldogs held close throughout the first half, but struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second. KWU’s suffocating defense forced MC into 25 turnovers and a 28.8 percent (15-of-52) shooting percentage.
Guard Kristen Ozbun and forward Elice Frey were the lone Bulldogs in double figures with 20 and 10 respectively. Ozbun’s 20-point effort moves her just three points behind former Bulldog Crystal Richardson for fifth place on the Bulldogs all-time scoring list. She currently has 1,034 career points.
Ottawa comes into the contest with a 2-8 overall record and 0-1 mark in conference action after a 55-73 loss at Bethel College. OU posted a respectable 40.4 percent (19-of-47) shooting percentage, but were forced into 28 turnovers. Prior to Bethel, Ottawa had won two of its last three, including a 100-82 shootout victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Scouting Ottawa
Ottawa comes into the contest with a 2-8 overall record and 0-1 mark in conference action after a 55-73 loss at Bethel College. OU posted a respectable 40.4 percent (19-of-47) shooting percentage, but were forced into 28 turnovers. Prior to Bethel, Ottawa had won two of its last three, including a 100-82 shootout victory against Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
Freshman forward Amber Ramsey averages a near double-double with 9.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, both team highs. Against Bethel, Ramsey scored a career-high 17 points, including a 7-of-8 effort from the free throw line. Fellow Olathe, Kan. native, Paige Gibson provides a secondary threat for the Braves. Gibson averages 9.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. She currently ranks 32nd nationally with 19 three-point field goals.
Head coach Bruce Tate is in his fourth season at Ottawa and owns a 23-66 record with the Braves. Before becoming head coach, Tate spent nine seasons as an OU assistant for the women’s basketball program.
In their last meeting...
McPherson failed to establish a consistent offensive attack, while OU torched the nets from beyond the arc en route to a 74-47 victory over the Bulldogs in the play-in round of the KCAC Tournament Monday night at Wilson Field House.
Ottawa, who entered the contest averaging a 38.1 shooting percentage from the field, finished the contest shooting 43.6 percent from the field, including 37.9 percent from beyond the arc and 78.9 percent from the foul stripe. OU forward Paige Gibson led all scorers with 14 points, while Maggie Hasenkamp came off the bench to add 12. Eleven of the 12 Lady Braves who saw action scored at least one point.
For McPherson, senior forward Carley Sharp tied her third highest point total of the season with 11 points. Junior guard Kristen Ozbun and sophomore Brooke Weisenburger just missed double digits with nine and eight points, respectively. Senior forward Stephanie Poland pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.
As a team, MC struggled from the field, shooting just 23.6 percent on 17-of-72 attempts. McPherson forced OU into 19 turnovers, but were out-rebounded by the Lady Braves, 48-41.
McPherson opened the game as the aggressor, racing out to an early 9-3 lead. However a put-back by Stacie Post and a deep three-pointer from Maggie Hazenkamp put Ottawa on top 11-9 at the 13:31 mark of the first half.
The two teams traded runs before the Bulldogs went cold from the field. OU’s pressure man-to-man defense held McPherson scoreless over the final three minutes of the first half, as the Lady Braves entered the locker room with a 40-26 advantage.
McPherson’s shooting woes continued into the second half. McPherson shot just 21.2 percent from the field in the second half, while Ottawa dominated the offensive end by connecting on 45.0 percent of attempts in the half.
