Women's Basketball | 12/9/2011 1:01:00 PM
Game 13: McPherson College (6-6, 2-1) vs. University of Saint Mary (6-6, 1-2)
Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 | 5 p.m. (CT) | McPherson Sport Center | McPherson, Kan.
Game Notes
Live Video
Live Audio
Live Statistics
McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson College women’s basketball team looks to bounce back from their Thursday night loss to Sterling, as the Bulldogs wrap-up their pre-holiday KCAC schedule with a home contest against the University of Saint Mary on Saturday, Dec. 10.
Tipoff at the McPherson Sport Center is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT) and the game will be shown live on the KCAC Broadcast Network and on Macbulldogs.com. Additionally, a radio broadcast will be provided in the McPherson area on 96.7 FM KBBE MidKansas Radio with an audio link available on Macbulldogs.com.
The Bulldogs are 6-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play following a tough 75-60 loss to Sterling their last time out. McPherson, who held a 40-30 lead at the half, struggled in the second period, including shooting only 22.6 percent (7-of-31) and committing 11 turnovers. Despite the loss,
Kt Porter (Wichita, Kan.) scored a near season-high 19 points, while
Taylor Puttergill (Tryon, Neb.) posted her first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Defensively, McPherson held the Warriors to 37.5 percent shooting (27-of-72) from the floor, while holding a 46-45 edge in rebounding.
Saint Mary, who surprised the conference with a 72-69 victory against Sterling on Dec. 1, enters the weekend with a 6-6 record on the season and 1-2 mark in the league. The Spires have won four of their last six, but fell in their midweek matchup against Southwestern, 91-93.
Following Saint Mary, McPherson returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 17 when they travel to Wichita, Kan. to play an exhibition game at Newman University.
Scouting Saint Mary
The University of Saint Mary enters the weekend matchup with the Bulldogs with a 6-6 overall record and 1-2 conference mark. The Spires have won four of their last six, but fell in their most recent contest at Southwestern 93-91.
Against Southwestern, USM shot 50.0 percent (32-of-64) from the field and 92.3 percent (24-of-26) from the free throw line, but were edged in overtime on a Brett Bates two-pointer. Additionally, the Spires held a 47-29 advantage in rebounding, but committed 23 turnovers and 26 fouls in the contest.
On the season, the Spires score an average of 67.5 points per game on a 41.3 percent field goal percentage. One of the keys to USM’s success this season has been their rebounding. The Spires rank fourth nationally in total rebounding offense (586), seventh in total rebound margin (11.2) and 10th in total rebounds per game (45.1).
Senior forward Jasmine Johnson has emerged as one of the key individuals for Saint Mary this season, as she leads the team with 14.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Johnson also leads the squad with 22 steals and 21 blocks this season. She entered the week with double-digit performances in all but two games this season, including a season-high 22 points on Nov. 12 against Saint Mary (Neb.) and again on Nov. 18 against Johnson & Wales (Colo.).
Junior transfer Tracie Weege is next on USM’s scoring list with 9.7 points per game off the bench this season. Additionally, she leads the team with 23 3-pointers this season.
Following McPherson, Saint Mary wraps up the 2011 portion of the schedule with a home game against Hillsdale Baptist College on Dec. 17, before traveling to Stephens (Mo.) on Dec. 18. The Spires return to conference action on Dec. 5 when they travel to Kansas Wesleyan University.
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. – Despite shooting only 27.6 percent in the second period, the McPherson College women’s basketball team held of the University of Saint Mary, 57-44, to snap a five game winless streak Thursday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
With the victory, the Bulldogs improve to 6-21 overall and 4-13 in KCAC action, while the Spires fall to 9-19 overall and 2-15 in league play.
Senior guard Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) made the most of her final regular season game at the Sport Center with a game-high 23 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including three 3-point baskets. The Rose Hill, Kan. native also pulled down four rebounds and recorded three steals.
Junior forward Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.) tallied her second double-digit effort in the past three games with 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting to round out the Bulldogs in double figures. Freshman guard Madison Chambers (Wellsville, Kan.) led the team with eight rebounds.
USM was led in scoring by Brittany Gardner with 14 points, including four 3-point baskets.
Neither side gained much advantage over the opening 12 minutes of the first half until an Ozbun 3-pointer from the top of the key sparked a 10-2 Bulldog run. The stretch provided MC a 24-12 halftime lead. Ozbun tallied six of McPherson’s ten points, while Sierra Gillespie and Elice Frey posted the other four points on layups.
McPherson shot 34.6 percent from the field in the opening period, while holding USM to 20.0 percent from the floor.
The Bulldogs carried their first period momentum into the second half, outscoring the Spires 9-2 over the first five mintues, 33-14. McPherson maintained the double figure lead until Mindy Eckert nailed a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 39-30 with 7:30 left.
After a stretch of trading baskets, Saint Mary would connect on two 3-pointers to cut the deficit to six, 46-40, with 2:17 left. However, that would be as close as the Spires would come, as the Bulldogs would hit 9-of-10 free throws during the final two minutes to close out the victory.
McPherson ended the night shooting 30.9 percent (17-of-55) and was 20-of-30 from the foul line. The Bulldog defense forced USM into 21 turnovers, while MC out-rebounded Saint Mary, 46-32.
