Women's Basketball | 2/7/2010 12:00:00 AM
Box Score Winfield, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s basketball team put together a strong effort, but failed to get past the strong defense by Southwestern, as the Bulldogs were defeated 64-53 Saturday night at Stewart Field House.
The loss drops McPherson to 5-17 overall and 2-12 in KCAC action, while the Moundbuilders stay right in the thick of the conference race with a 10-4 conference mark, 17-7 overall.
Bulldog senior guard Kristen Ozbun put together a tremendous effort with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting. It’s the seniors second 20-point effort of the season and the 16th time she has been in double figures. Along with scoring, Ozbun finished the night second on the team with six rebounds. Freshman Jacee Coberly was the only other Bulldog in double figures with 10 points off the bench.
McPherson opened the game cold, missing their first five shots until Stephanie Poland connected on a hook shot off a feed from Brooke Weisenburger. The basket ended the Builders 10-0 run to start the game, 10-2.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit to four, 16-12, with 10:15 in the half on an Ozbun layup and a Weisenburger three from the wing. However, Southwestern answered with a pair of free throws and a three-pointer from Sarah Maxwell.
McPherson ended the half with a 5-1 mini run to pull the lead within four, 31-27. The Bulldogs shot 35.5 percent from the field in the opening period, but struggled from the foul line converting just 3-of-10 attempts. The mixed defensive looks from the Bulldogs frustrated Southwestern into 28.1 percent shooting.
Ozbun opened the second half with five straight points, including a jumper from the top of the key to give McPherson their first and only lead of the game, 32-21 with 19:14 left. Southwestern quickly answered with an old-fashioned three-point play by Jasmine Jackson. The Bulldogs knotted the score once again at 34-34 on a Carly Sharp runner, but Southwestern answered with a 12-0 run to push their lead back to double digits, 46-34.
The Bulldogs would get as close as seven, 53-46 with a little less than eight minutes left, but another Moundbuilder run put the game out of reach 64-48 with 1:51 left in the game.
McPherson ended the contest shooting 31.8 percent from the field. The Bulldogs struggles at the free throw line continued throughout as they hit on only 42.9 percent of attempts.
Southwestern match the McPherson shooting percentage, 31.8 percent from the field, but hit on 14-of-22 free throw attempts and connected on eight three-point baskets. Junior guard Jasmine Manuel paced the Moundbuilder offense with 19 points, while Tylar Hartifield added 12 and Jordyn Cossman chipped in 11.
McPherson returns home for two games next week as the Bulldogs play host to the University of Saint Mary on Thursday, before Friends University comes to McPherson on Saturday. Tip for the USM game is set for 5:00 p.m. inside the McPherson Sport Center.
