Women's Basketball | 1/26/2013 10:12:00 PM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – Tough defense down the stretch gives McPherson a 10-point. 69-59 triumph over the Lady Braves of Ottawa University in the Sport Center. MC moves to 13-9 for the season and are 7-5 in the KCAC, placing them fifth.
Saturday night’s matchup got out to a quick start with the two teams scoring on their first few possessions, neither team able to take control of the game. The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to five on a fast break layup, causing OU to use the half’s lone timeout with 14:34 showing on the clock. Mac stayed on top until the Braves jumped in front briefly at the midway point of the half. McPherson took the lead back a few possessions later and held it for the rest of the period with their largest lead coming on the half’s last basket; MC went into the locker room up 28-19.
The Lady ‘Dogs made 10-of-25 from the field with two three-point buckets; 6-of-8 from the free throw line was tallied by Mac. Ottawa struggled from the floor as they hit 23.1% of their 26 attempts including making just 3-of-11 from deep; the squad was a perfect 4-of-4 from the stripe. Both teams had a tough time holding on to the ball as MC totaled 10 turnovers and the Braves ended the first 20 minutes with nine.
The second half started with McPherson increasing their lead to double-digits as they got up 11 with less than three minutes gone by in the half. The gap between the two teams stayed in the 10-point range for most of the first part of the period but a 9-0 run by OU pulled the Braves within one-point with 8:20 to go. The Lady Bulldogs maintained their advantage throughout the rest of the game despite Ottawa’s best efforts. MC would push the lead to double figures for the game’s last minute, winning 69-59.
Mac improved their shooting in the second period as they drained 13-of-28 from the floor with 3-of-9 three balls falling through the hoop; an outstanding 12-fo-15 free throws were put in by the Bulldogs. Ottawa also had a solid shooting half as they recorded a 48.3 field goal percentage on their 29 shot attempts; 2-of-6 three pointers and 10-of-13 free throws went in for OU. MC and the Lady Braves each corrected their ball handling errors from the first period as six and five turnovers were logged in the second, respectively.
McPherson closed out the game with a 43.4 shooting percentage as 23-of-53 field goals were scored which included 5-of-17 from long range; 18-of-23 free throws were tallied by the ‘Dogs. Ottawa’s second half shooting moved their game’s field goal percentage to a respectable 36.4 percent; they also made 5-of-17 from behind the arc and nailed 14-of-17 from the stripe. MC pulled down 10 more rebounds than the Braves as they tallied 39 to OU’s 29; Mac grabbed 11 off of the offensive glass and put seven of those balls in the hoop for their 14 second chance points.
Kaylee Cramer (Dighton, Kan.) led the team in scoring with her 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting including a three pointer; she also had five rebounds. Bailey Brown (Glen Elder, Kan.) and Ali Brewster (Milton, Kan.) each totaled 12 points; Brown hit 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and 2-of-7 from the field while Brewster made 5-of-10 from the floor. Madison Chambers (Wellsville, Kan.) was one point and one rebound away from a double-double, ending the game with nine of each. Beth Cooper (Seibert, Colo.) also scored nine points, doing so on 3-of-10 from the field and 2-of-2 from the stripe.
MiKayla Skidmore, who recently became eligible for OU, was the game’s leading scorer with 20 points on 7-of-12 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line; she scored 16 of her total in the second period. Kelsi Meier and Lauren Buckles each scored 13 in their team’s loss. Ottawa’s leading scorer for the season, Amber Ramsey, was held to two points which she scored in the final 30 seconds of the game; she did lead the Lady Braves in rebounds, grabbing 11.
Another home contest is next on the docket for MC as they host Southwestern College on January 31st; game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CT)
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