Women's Basketball | 1/12/2011 9:36:25 AM
Game 17: McPherson College (3-13, 1-5) at Bethany College (2-14, 0-6)
Thursday, January 13, 2011 | 6:00 p.m. | Hahn Gymnasium | Lindsborg, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
Following a heart-breaking 44-49 loss against Tabor College, the McPherson College women’s basketball team makes its first KCAC road trip of the New Year Thursday evening, as the Bulldogs travel to Bethany College for a 6:00 p.m. matchup with the Swedes.
Thursday’s game will be carried in the McPherson area by 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio. The broadcast will feature Bulldog play-by-play announcer Nick Gosnell. A free audio stream of the contest will also be available at www.macbulldogs.com
The Bulldogs venture to Lindsborg in search of their first win since early December. Despite bad luck in the win column, McPherson has showed fortitude in its last two contests, falling by just a five and two point margin in its last two contests.
In their last game against Tabor, McPherson forced the Jays into 20 turnovers, while outrebounding TC 43-30. The Bulldogs shot 30.6 percent (15-of-49) from the field and 66.7 percent (12-of-18) from the free throw line.
Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) led MC with nine points, while
Tori Verdieck (New Castle, Colo.) and
Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.) added eight points respectively.
The Swedes (2-14, 0-6 KCAC) saw their 11 game losing streak extended to 12 following a weekend loss to Bethel College, 75-61. Bethany is led by senior forward Cathy Wade’s 18.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per contest. Wade ranks 12th nationally in three-point field goals made with 43.
Looking past Bethany, McPherson will travel to the University of Saint Mary on Saturday. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Spires is set for 1:30 p.m.
Scouting Bethany
Bethany comes into Thursday night with a 2-14 overall mark and a 0-6 record in KCAC play after falling, 75-61, to Bethel College Saturday night at home. In that game, Bethel shot 39.7 percent from the floor, while out rebounding the Swedes 49-39. Bethany ended the contest shooting just 27.1 percent (16-of-59) from the flooring, including a 3-of-16 effort from three-point range. Senior guard Emily Dwerlkotte led the Swedes with 14 points and six rebounds.
The loss extended the Swedes losing streak to 12 games, including a six-game winless stretch in conference. BC’s only two victories of the season came on November 6 against Johnson & Wales University (75-64) and on November 13 against the College of Saint Mary (68-66).
Despite the team’s struggles, senior forward Cathy Wade is having a career year. The 5-10 native of Midwest City, Okla. leads BC with 18.8 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, while hitting 40.2 percent from beyond the three-point line. Wade ranks 12th nationally in three-point field goals made with 43. Last season, Wade averaged 12.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per contest.
As a team, Bethany is averaging 55.8 points per game and has been outscored by its opponents by an average of 16.9 points per game. Turnovers has been one of BC’s Achilles heals, as the Swedes have turned the ball over 322 times in 16 games (20.1 TO per game).
The Swedes are coach by Jim Campion
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s basketball team suffered a 75-62 loss at the hands of Bethany College Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center. The Bulldogs fall to 5-16 overall and 2-11 in KCAC play, while the Swedes improve to 8-15 and 5-8.
Sophomore guard Brooke Weisenburger led the Bulldogs with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while freshman forward Shireana Robinson fell just short of her fifth double double of the season with nine points and nine rebounds.
The score remained close early, with the Swedes taking a 10-8 lead in the first five minutes. Bethany broke the game open with a 13-5 run over the next five minutes to gain a 23-13 advantage with 10:43 left in the half.
Trailing 31-21, McPherson freshman Jacee Coberly beat her defender for an easy layup to cut the deficit to eight, 31-23, but the Swedes responded with six straight points to end the half, including four points from Swede forward Cathy Wade. MC entered the locker room down 38-23 at the half.
McPherson’s Shireana Robinson and Brooke Weisenburger came alive to start the second half, scoring eight of the Bulldogs first 13 to cut the BC lead down to eight, 37-45 with 13:31 remaining. Two Weisenburger three-pointers brought the lead back within four, 50-54 with just under 10 minutes remaining, but cold shooting following the allow the Swedes to push the lead back to double digits, 67-55 with 4:47 left in the game.
The Bethany offense proved to be too much down the stretch as BC used free throws to control the tempo. The Swedes converted six of their last seven three throw attempts to put the game out of reach, 75-62.
McPherson finished the night shooting 34.2 (25-of-73) from the field, while Bethany connected on 40.6 percent (26-of-64) of their attempts.
McPherson hits the road Saturday to take on the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. Tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m. inside Stewart Field House.
