Women's Basketball | 1/2/2013 2:20:00 PM
Game Notes
Live Audio
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Live Stats
McPherson, Kan. – The first KCAC game of 2013 for McPherson College will be at home on January 3rd against the University of Saint Mary Lady Spires. The game will begin at 6:00 p.m. (CT) in the McPherson Sport Center. MC will try to continue their two-game win streak and improve their 4th place conference standing.
The contest will be broadcasted live in the McPherson area on 96.7 FM KBBE Mid-Kansas Radio and on the world wide web at Macbulldogs.com with Nick Gosnell on the call with Steve Sell providing the color commentary for the broadcast. 1410 AM KGSO will also be covering the contest as the KCAC’s “Game of the Week.”
You can watch the game via ihigh.com/macbulldogs. All links to live game statistics, audio or video can be found at Macbulldogs.com
In their most recent matchup, and final non-conference game of the year, the Lady Bulldogs traveled to York, Nebraska to take on the Panthers of York College for the second time this season. MC was the obvious favorite heading into the game as they took down YC by 20+ points on November 26th. York was determined to defend their home court and started the game off with a 7-0 run. After trading baskets, McPherson had a run of their own, tying the game at 23. After another series of back-and-forth possessions, the halftime buzzer sounded with Mac up 36-32.
The second period started the same as the first one ended, with neither team being able to force a defensive stop to try and gain momentum. MC finally took control with an 8-0 run that pushed the score to 51-39; the ‘Dogs increased their advantage to 17 points with under 10 minutes left in the half and looked to be in prime position to coast the rest of the game. The Lady Panthers had other ideas and continued to fight, never giving in, and brought their deficit to single-digits with 5:09 showing on the clock. McPherson hit their free throws down the stretch which sealed the 77-67 win for the Bulldogs.
Mac ended the game 25-of-62 from the field and 23-of-31 from the free throw line. YC converted 37.7 percent of their shots from the floor and were 17-of-22 from the stripe. Both McPherson and York each were only able to make four three pointers as MC went 4-of-18 while the Panthers hit 4-of-19. The Bulldogs won the rebounding battle, pulling down 47 rebounds to York’s 35; McPherson also tallied more steals, recording 11.
Cheyenne Eisenhour was the game’s leading scorer as she bucketed 15 points with the majority of her total coming from her 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Second on the team in scoring for MC was freshman Bailey Brown who when 5-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from the stripe for 13 points. Ali Brewster made 3-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-9 from charity stripe, scoring 12. The final double-digit scorer for Mac was Cami Engelbert who was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and made 2-of-3 from the free throw line for 10 points. Both Madison Chambers and Tayler Puttergill pulled down 10 rebounds in the win.
Another home game awaits McPherson once they have finished with Saint Mary; the Falcons of Friends University make their way to the McPherson Sport Center on January 5th for a 5:00 p.m. (CT) showdown; JV games will precede the varsity.
Scouting Saint Mary
The 4-10 Lady Spires of Saint Mary have hit a rough patch as of late, losing nine-straight games after a 4-1 start to the season; four of the team’s losses have come against KCAC opponents. They played two non-conference games during the break from conference action, taking on Stephens College and Central Methodist University; the Spires lost 70-62 to SC and 78-49 to CMU.
Against the Central Methodist Eagles, USM was no match for CMU’s near 50% field goal shooting; the Eagles hit on 27-of-55 helping propel them to a 13-1 record. The Lady Spires converted on just 18-of-48 from the floor and made 4-of-15 from behind the arc; they also shot below 50 percent from the charity stripe, making only 9-of-19. 20 turnovers were accumulated by Saint Mary as were 10 assists.
Shelby Watson scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 from the free throw line; she tallied eight rebounds in the loss. No other Spire made it over the 10-point hump with Korbynn Stallbaumer being the next highest scorer as she went 4-of-11 from the floor for nine points.
64.6 points per game are averaged by USM as they shoot 41.4 percent from the field and 31.1from distance which are both in the top-2 of the KCAC; 62.7% of the team’s free throw attempts make it through the hoop, second worst in the conference. They are second to last in the league in points allowed, giving up 70.86 a contest. Just over 38 rebounds per outing are recorded by Saint Mary and they are outrebounding their opponent by 1.4 boards. Each time they hit the court, they turn the ball over 19 times and are stealing back nine. 236 assists have been recorded by the Lady Spires this season and they average 16.86 per game, leading the KCAC in both categories.
Watson is scoring 9.7 points per contest which is the highest of any of her teammates; she makes 47.7% of her attempts and has made 51 field goals this year; she also leads the team in rebounds, grabbing 81 for the season and 5.79 per game. Watson’s three-point percentage, 39.1, is the 34th highest among all NAIA D-II players. Kendra Mattox, Adelyn Ezeh and Korbynn Stallbaumer each average over eight points a game with 8.7, 8.2 and 8.0, respectively. Junior guard Ezeh ranks first on the squad in total assists and steals with 48 and 23, respectively.
The Lady Spires will host Bethany College on January 5th for their first home game of 2013.
