Women's Basketball | 1/17/2012 11:00:00 AM
Game 19: McPherson College (9-9, 4-4) at Bethany College (3-16, 0-8)
Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012 | 6 p.m. (CT) | Hahn Gymnasium | Lindsborg, Kan.
Game Notes (PDF)
Live Video
Live Audio
McPherson, Kan. - The McPherson College women’s basketball team looks to build off its weekend victory, as the Bulldogs travel to inter-county rival Bethany College Wednesday night. Tipoff between the Bulldogs and Swedes is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) inside Hahn Gymnasium.
Wednesday’s game will be streamed live on the KCAC Broadcast Network, while 96.7 FM KBBE and McPherson play-by-play man Nick Gosnell provide radio coverage for the McPherson area. Additionally, a live audio stream will be available at Macbulldogs.com.
McPherson enters the match up with a 9-9 overall record and 4-4 mark in the KCAC after knocking off Ottawa University, 77-68, over the weekend. The Bulldogs shot 49.2 percent (30-of-61) from the floor – their highest effort since early December – and had three players in double figures, including a career-high 19 points by senior forward
Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.).
Prior to the victory against Ottawa, McPherson had lost three straight and five of their last seven, including MC’s exhibition loss at NCAA Division II Newman University (Kan.).
Bethany comes into the midweek contest riding a 10-game losing streak en route to a 3-16 overall record and 0-8 mark in the conference. BC’s last victory came on Nov. 28 when they defeated Oklahoma Wesleyan 53-47.
After Bethany, McPherson returns home on Saturday, Jan. 21, to host Bethel College. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. (CT).
Scouting Bethany
Bethany, who was picked amongst the bottom two in the KCAC preseason poll, has struggled to a 3-16 overall record and 0-8 KCAC mark. The Swedes have dropped 10 straight, including games at Saint Mary (51-49) and against nationally ranked Southwestern (88-52) last week. BC’s last victory came against Oklahoma Wesleyan – who twice defeated McPherson this season – on Nov. 28, 53-47.
In their last game against Southwestern, Bethany shot 35.3 percent (18-of-51) from the field, but failed to overcome 22 turnovers and 15 Builder offensive rebounds. Junior forward Tasha Wagoner paced the Swedes with 16 points and five rebounds, while sophomore center Heather Eddings scored 10 points off the bench.
Overall, the Swedes have struggled to score points this season, averaging only 50.7 points per game on 33.5 percent shooting. Additionally, BC is converting only 24.9 percent of 3-point attempts and 58.9 percent at the foul line.
Wagoner, a transfer from Fort Hays State University (Kan.), leads the team with 12.0 points per game on the season, including 18.3 points per game in BC’s last four contests. She additionally leads the team in rebounding with 111 total boards (5.8 rebound per game). Wagoner’s best performance came on Jan. 12 when she scored a career-high 25 points on 11-of-20 shooting at Saint Mary.
Following the Bulldogs, Bethany returns to the court on Jan. 21 when they host Kansas Wesleyan. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
In their last meeting...
McPherson, Kan. (02/13/11) – Senior guard Kristen Ozbun’s game tying three-point attempt fell short, as the McPherson College women’s basketball team fell, 54-49, to Bethany College Saturday night at the McPherson Sport Center.
With the loss, McPherson dropped to 5-21 overall and 3-13 in league play, while Bethany improved to 6-20 overall and 4-12 in conference action. The defeat also puts the Bulldogs one game behind BC for the final spot in the KCAC tournament.
In the first half, McPherson trailed 11-6 before going nearly nine minutes without a field goal. Despite the drought, the Bulldogs trailed by only nine points, 19-10. MC quickly cut the deficit to three with back-to-back three-pointers from Brooke Weisenburger (Gardner, Kan.) and Kristen Ozbun (Rose Hill, Kan.) to make the score 16-19 with 35 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Each team would add another three-point basket, as the Swedes entered the break with a 22-19 halftime advantage.
McPherson struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 20.7 percent (6-of-29) from the field and was 3-of-6 from the free throw line. Ozbun accounted for nine of MC’s 19 first half points, all of which came on three-pointers.
The Bulldogs tied the game early in the second half on when Tori Verdieck (New Castle, Colo.) connected on one of two free throw attempts to make the score 22-22 with 18:28 left in regulation. Both teams would trade the lead over the next six minutes, before a 13-2 Bethany run gave the Swedes a 42-35 advantage with 9:12 remaining in the game. The run was highlighted by three-pointers by Tamara Garner, Emily Dwerlkotte and Nicole Felker.
However, the Bulldogs pulled within one following a pair of Sierra Gillespie (Chase, Kan.) treys and a pair of free throws by Brandi Florian (Russell, Kan.), 50-49, with a little less than two minutes remaining. All three baskets came off Swede turnovers. Despite the momentum, MC failed to connect on the go-ahead basket as Ozbun’s three-pointer fell short.
For the game, McPherson was led in scoring by Ozbun, who tallied 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the floor. As a team, MC ended the night shooting 28.8 percent (17-of-59) from the field, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from beyond the arc and 52.9 percent (9-of-17) from the foul line.
Dwerlkotte paced the Swede offense with 14 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. The Swedes shot 42.2 percent (19-of-45) from the floor and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, February 17 when they host the University of Saint Mary. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
