Women's Basketball | 1/18/2011 10:05:42 AM
Game 19: McPherson College (4-14, 2-6 KCAC) at #15 Sterling College (15-3, 7-1)
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 | 6:00 p.m. | McPherson Sport Center | McPherson, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Audio
The Matchup
After a hard fought win against the University of Saint Mary on Saturday, the McPherson College women’s basketball team returns to the McPherson Sport Center on Wednesday night, as the Bulldogs take on No. 15 Sterling College.
Wednesday’s game is a 6:00 p.m. start time. A radio broadcast will be provided to the McPherson area by 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio with an audio stream available at www.macbulldogs.com for listeners outside the area.
The Bulldogs (4-14, 2-6 KCAC) never trailed against USM to pick up their second league win of the season. On the night, McPherson’s defense held the Spires to 28.3 percent (17-of-60) from the field, including a 27.8 percent (5-of-18) effort from beyond the three-point line. It was the first win for the Bulldogs in Leavenworth since the 2007-08 season.
McPherson outrebounded the Spires, 48-45, including 11 rebounds by guard
Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) and seven from
Madison Chambers (Wellsville, Kan.). The Bulldogs were led in scoring by
Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.), who tallied a game-high 16 points on 8-of-14 shooting.
Ozbun continues her quest for history on Wednesday night against the Warriors. The Rose Hill, Kan. native is just seven points behind April Woody (1,149 career points) for third on the Bulldogs all-time scoring list with 1,142 career points. She is scheduled to play in her 97th game in a Bulldog uniform, while extending a streak of 69 consecutive starts.
The Bulldogs will need another strong defensive effort on Wednesday night, as the Warriors come to McPherson with a 15-3 record and 7-1 mark in conference play. Sterling’s lone loss in league play came at No. 7 Kansas Wesleyan University, 72-63.
The Warriors are riding a two-game win streak with victories against Ottawa University (83-38) and Bethel College (63-58).
After Sterling, McPherson will hit to road to face No. 7 Kansas Wesleyan University on Saturday. In the last meeting, KWU defeated the Bulldogs 71-43. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Salina, Kan.
Scouting Sterling
Sterling, a perennial power in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference, enters the midweek matchup with the Bulldogs ranked No. 15 in the latest NAIA Top 25 and owns a 15-3 overall record, 7-1 KCAC. The Warriors lone slip up in KCAC play came back on Jan. 8 against No. 7 Kansas Wesleyan University, 72-63.
Since the loss, Sterling has outscored its opponents 146-96, including an 83-38 domination of Ottawa University. The Warriors have won 13 of 15 games dating back to mid-November.
The Warriors are one of the league’s top teams, ranking no lower than second in 11 team categories, including leading the league in scoring margin (17.3), free throw percentage (74.0 percent), field goal percentage offense (43.9 percent), total rebound defense (32.67) and blocks (71).
Sterling starts five seniors, including All-KCAC performers Erica Herman and Brittany Gasper. Fellow all-conference award winner Megan Patrick has been in and out of the starting lineup this season.
Gasper, a first team selection a year ago, ranks second on the team (sixth KCAC) in scoring, averaging 13.8 points per game, while leading the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest, a 52.3 percent field goal percentage and 22 blocks. She has scored in double figures in 12 of SC’s 18 games this season, including a season-best 24 points against Kansas Wesleyan, Hastings College (Neb.) and the University of Saint Mary.
Patrick, the Warriors leading scorer from a year ago, currently leads the team with 18.1 points per game, but has not played since Jan. 1 against Hastings College.
Long time head coach Lonnie Kruse leads the Warriors. Kruse is in his 30th season with the Sterling College women’s basketball program and has guided the Warriors to 28 straight winning seasons. He has been named KCAC Coach of the Year ten times during his tenure at SC.
In their last meeting...
Sterling, Kan – McPherson scored five straight points in less than a minute to cut the Lady Warrior lead to one, 52-51 with two minutes left, but Sterling was too good down the stretch from the free throw line as the No. 15 Lady Warriors held on for a 58-51 victory at the Gleason Center on Thursday.
McPherson, which hit 35.5 percent from the field, including six three pointers, held close the entire 40 minutes of the game. MC frustrated the Warriors into just 34.5 percent shooting, nearly 10 percent lower than their season average. However, SC converted on 13-of-17 free throw attempts, while forcing McPherson into 21 turnovers to take control of the game.
After the first 20 minutes, McPherson found themselves down just four, 27-24. The Lady Warriors were obviously frustrated with the physical defense of the Bulldogs, which held Sterling to a dismal 30.3 percent shooting in the first half.
The Bulldogs took the lead early in the second half after Carley Sharp put back a Brooke Weisenburger failed layup attempt followed by a Kristen Ozbun three-pointer from the wing. However, Sterling answered with a 9-2 run, giving the Lady Warriors a 42-35 advantage with 11:28 left.
McPherson answered the run with five of their own, before another run by Sterling pushed the lead back to eight, 52-44.
McPherson refused to layover, scoring seven straight highlighted by a Weisenburger three-pointer with just second left on the shot clock. Despite the valiant effort from McPherson, Sterling proved to be too much down the stretch as SC held the Bulldogs scoreless for the remaining two minutes.
The loss drops the Bulldogs to 3-14 in league play and 6-19 overall, while the Lady Warriors locked up their four consecutive KCAC regular season championship with a 16-1 KCAC record, 22-4 overall.
Cathryn Wiebe paced the Sterling offense with 20 points, while Britany Gasper added 13.
Sophomore guard Brooke Weisenburger led MC with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-8 from beyond the three-point line.
