Women's Basketball | 1/27/2011 10:55:27 PM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s basketball team pulled out a hard-fought 52-49 victory over Ottawa University Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
The win improves McPherson to 5-16 overall and 3-8 in conference action, while the Lady Braves fall to 7-14 overall and 4-7 in the KCAC.
Both sides traded baskets early in the first period with Ottawa taking a 13-8 advantage with 14:28 remaining in the half. McPherson would chip away before an Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.) runner in the lane sparked a 17-3 Bulldog run to close the period, 33-22 McPherson. The run would span nearly eight minutes with seven different Bulldogs recording points.
McPherson ended the first half shooting 40.0 percent (12-of-30) from the floor, while the Bulldogs defense held OU to just 25.9 percent (7-of-27) shooting and forced 11 turnovers.
However, Ottawa came out of the intermission determined to make a dent in the MC lead. The Braves recorded nine straight points, including a three-pointer from Paige Gibson, to cut the Bulldog advantage to just two, 33-31. Following a minute and a half stretch without either team scoring, MC answered with a 12-0 run of their own made up by three Brooke Weisenburger (Gardner, Kan.) three-pointers and a triple from Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.).
MC’s streak, which forced an Ottawa timeout, would prove to be a majority of the half’s offense for the Bulldogs. McPherson did not respond well after the timeout and would go nearly 13 minutes before Madison Chambers connected on a jumper to give MC a 51-49 lead with 0:33 remaining on the clock. The Bulldogs did add three free throws during the cold spell.
OU had two chances to tie with less than 20 seconds remaining, but missed both before Myah Sprew was called for traveling after grabbing an offensive rebound.
Weisenburger would convert one-of-two free throws to seal the Bulldog victory.
For the night, McPherson shot 32.1 percent (17-of-53) from the field and was led in scoring by Weisenburger’s 14 points.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, January 28 when they travel to North Newton, Kan. to take on Bethel College. Tipoff is slated for 5:00 p.m. inside Thresher Gymnasium.
