Women's Basketball | 2/14/2012 2:46:00 PM
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McPherson, Kan. – After dropping their past three games to the KCAC’s top teams, the Lady Bulldogs now look ahead to fifth ranked Ottawa University. McPherson is set to play the Braves this Thursday, Feb. 16
th in the Wilson Field House at 6 p.m. (CT)
The game will be shown live on the KCAC Broadcast Network and at Macbulldogs.com. The contest will also be broadcasted live in the McPherson area on 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio and at Macbulldogs.com with Nick Gosnell on the call.
During their recent three-game losing streak, MC dropped from third in the KCAC to sixth (8-8, 13-13 overall). Ottawa is one place ahead of the Bulldogs with a conference record of 9-7 and are 11-14 on the season. If McPherson is hoping to move ahead in the KCAC standings, they will have to defeat the Ottawa Braves.
In their most recent defeat, the Lady Bulldogs were out shot and out ran by Kansas Wesleyan, landing on the short end of a 57-74 score line. MC gave up too many offensive rebounds (20) and second chance points (12) to the Coyotes. They also turned the ball over 20 times and were only able to force eight from KWU.
Taylor Puttergill (Tryon, Neb.) was McPherson’s leading scorer for the game with 13 points on 5-of-13. 12 points were scored by freshman
Brittany Pittas (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) and her 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Kt Porter (Wichita, Kan.) shot 50 (4-of-8) percent for the contest and had 11 points.
MC had an above average shooting day; they shot 39.6 percent from the field on 21-of-53. The Bulldogs also put up 22 three-point shots in the game, draining nine of them, seven in the second half. McPherson’s 57 points however, was 10 below their average for the year.
The Ottawa University Braves are coming into the showdown having lost a double overtime game at Southwestern College this past Saturday night 96-98. That was OU’s last away game of the season as they are now left with two home contests.
The Lady Bulldogs will be at home for their final regular season game against the Swedes of Bethany. They are set to play Bethany on Saturday night at 5 p.m. (CT) in the McPherson Sport Center. The game will be both Senior and Alumni night.
Scouting Ottawa
Ottawa will have to regroup after their grueling double overtime confrontation with Southwestern. That game included five 20-point performers, eight ladies in double-digit scoring, and 50 minutes of total playing time. With both teams shooting over 40 percent, it was a high scoring affair with neither team taking full control.
The Braves were led by two of their bench players, Shauna McClure and April Dowell, each of which set season highs with 25 points. Ottawa had two others in double figures, Shannon Carlin (15) and their leading scorer for the season, Paige Gibson (11).
The OU team shot the ball very well, making 45.5 percent of their threes, going 10-22. They were also 68.2 percent from the free-throw line and ended the night with a 48.3 field goal percentage. All of these percentages were above their season average.
For the year, Ottawa is averaging just over 60 points per game while shooting 37 percent from the field. The Braves rank in the bottom half of the conference in most offensive and defensive categories with the exceptions being assists, steals and three-point field goals; OU is second in assists per game, fourth in steals and second in three pointers per game.
Senior forward Gibson leads the team in scoring, averaging 9.48 points per game; she is also tied for second in the conference in three-point percentage at 37.8. Kiki Smith is sitting first in the KCAC with her 4.32 assists per contest and fifth with nearly two steals each outing.
The Braves will stay at home for their last regular season game, facing the Coyotes of Kansas Wesleyan. That game is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. (CT)
