Women's Basketball | 1/12/2012 9:12:00 PM
Box Score Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Despite a career-high 25 points from
Taylor Puttergill (Tryon, Neb.), the McPherson College women’s basketball team fell to Kansas Wesleyan University, 87-67, Thursday night at the McPherson College Sport Center.
With the loss, McPherson falls 8-9 overall and 3-4 in KCAC play, while the Coyotes improve to 10-8 on the season and 5-2 in the league.
Puttergill paced the Bulldogs with 25 points, hitting 11-of-21 shots from the floor, while adding four rebounds and two steals.
Kt Porter (Wichita, Kan.) was the only other Bulldog in double figures with 13 points.
Kansas Wesleyan controlled the tempo early, outscoring McPherson 21-9 over the first eight minutes of the opening period. McPherson, however, battled back behind a 13-2 run that was capped by a Puttergill old-fashioned three-point play to make it 22-23 at the 8:09 mark of the first.
Despite the McPherson run, the Coyotes swung the momentum back in their favor with three straight layups, including two off Bulldogs turnovers to extend their lead back to double-digits, 38-27. KWU held a least a 10-point advantage for the remainder of the half.
Much like the first half, Kansas Wesleyan outscored the Bulldogs, 23-16, over the first 12 minutes to take a 69-48 lead with 7:32 remaining. McPherson pulled within 18, 83-65, on a Porter jumper with 42 seconds left, but would come no closer.
Overall, McPherson finished the contest shooting 39.1 percent (27-of-69) from the field, but converted only 20.0 percent (2-of-10) of their 3-point attempts and 64.7 percent (11-of-17) at the foul line. Additionally, the Bulldogs were outrebounded, 46-32.
Kansas Wesleyan shot a blistering 58.6 percent (34-of-58) from the field, as Stephanie Frost and Alecia Smith led the way with 18 points each. Smith added a game-high 11 rebounds to complete the double-double.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, Jan. 14 when they host Ottawa University at 5 p.m. (CT).
