Women's Basketball | 2/23/2012 12:08:00 AM
Box Score
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – For the third time this year, the Lady Bulldogs were undone by the offensive rebounding and second chance points of the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes, losing 40-65 Wednesday night in Salina. McPherson gave up 23 offensive boards for 20 points to KWU in the contest.
McPherson was able to get out to an early 6-4 lead but then got stuck on six points from the 15 minute mark until just over eight minutes to play in the opening period, allowing Kansas Wesleyan to create a 12 point gap that put the Bulldogs behind early. The Coyotes kept that lead until the 17:50 mark in the second half when MC got it back to single digits at 26-35. Unfortunately for McPherson, that’s when KWU pressed down on the throttle and quickly increased their lead to 15 and never let it get any closer.
The two leading scorers for MC were Madison Chambers (Wellsville, Kan.) and Elice Frey (Riley, Kan.) who each had eight points; Guard Kt Porter (Wichita, Kan.) added in seven on 3-of-8 shooting. The Bulldogs had two players with six rebounds, Taylor Puttergill (Tryon, Neb.) and Elice Frey who also had three blocked shots.
The Bulldogs were unable to make a single three-point shot during the game, going 0-of-12. This is the first time all season that MC did not make a shot from long range. Their overall field goal percentage was 27.3 which is 11 percent below their regular season average. McPherson also shot 58.8% from the charity strip going 10-of-17.
Christian Cassity scored 17 points to lead the Coyotes on 7-of-12 shooting. 12 points were drained by Stephanie Frost, eight of which came in the first half; Frost also had 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the year. Sophomore forward Alecia Smith had 16 rebounds in the game, nine of which were off the offensive glass.
The Coyotes did not do very well from behind the arc either, making 2-of-16 for the game with both makes coming in the first half. KWU also struggled from the free-throw line, shooting 52.9 percent on 9-of-17. Their 42.2% from the field was four percent higher than their regular season average.
The Bulldogs had fewer turnovers (11) than Kansas Wesleyan’s 13 and were able to force nine of those. MC was able to grab 12 balls off the offensive glass for eight points.
Going without a three-point shot wasn’t the only negative first for the Bulldogs as this was the first time they have gone a game without a player in double figures; McPherson has also never gone a game without two players scoring in the double digits this season. The 40 points scored by MC was the lowest point total for the team this year.
The victory for KWU, 18-12 for the year and 13-6 in conference, allows them to move on to the second round of the KCAC tournament where they will travel to Southwestern to play on Saturday, Feb. 25. The loss for the Lady Bulldogs ends their 2011-2012 season, finishing with a 14-15 record overall and 9-10 in the KCAC.
