Women's Basketball | 12/2/2013 2:40:00 PM
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McPherson, Kan. – Following a three-game win streak, the Lady 'Dogs basketball team lost a tough one to NAIA Division-I MidAmerica Nazarene University 78-31 last week. MC will try to get back to their winning ways on Thursday as they start conference play against Bethel College; tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CT) with JV getting underway at 2:00 in McPherson
In their road contest with MANU, McPherson got down early as none of their attempts were able to find the bottom of the net. The Lady Pioneers had no issue scoring as they put up 44 points in the opening half; they held a 44-8 lead as the halftime buzzer sounded. MC hit on just 7.69% of their shot attempts, seeing 2-of-26 field goals fall with no makes from deep. MidAmerica Nazarene cashed in on more than 40% of their attempts including 4-of-13 from beyond the arc; 8-of-10 free throws were counted by MANU in the first 20 minutes.
The second period brought more scoring for the Bulldogs but the Pioneers continued to put points on the board and kept Mac at bay. In the end, MidAmerica claimed a 78-31 victory. McPherson drained 8-of-29 from the floor with a pair of threes; 5-of-9 foul shots went through for the Lady 'Dogs. MANU made just 14 field goals including 33.3 percent of their three-point attempts; they went to the line just once i 1-of-2.
Mac closed out the game with an 18.2 field goal percentage, making 10-of-55 with 2-of-15 from the three-point line; 9-of-16 fell from the charity stripe in the 40 minute contest. They netted 28 rebounds along with nine turnovers and eight assists; the Bulldogs forced 10 MANU turnovers with four steals. Nearly half of MC's points came off the bench as the five non-starters tallied 13 points.
Aubrey Barton scored a team-high seven points, making 3-of-7 from the field with 1-of-2 free throws going down the net. Chandler Short and Cami Engelbert each tallied six points; Engelbert led the team in rebounds, pulling down nine.
Lady Bulldogs in the National rankings: Sunny Smart is 25th in the NAIA D-II in free throw percentage (86.7%) and 33rd in total three-point shots made (21). As a team, MC is seventh in defensive rebounds per game with 31.4; they are also 8th in defensive field goal percentage at 34.4 percent.
McPherson will get their first KCAC road test on Saturday, December 7th when they head to Leavenworth, Kansas for a 3:00 matchup with the Lady Spires of the University of Saint Mary.
Scouting Bethel
The Threshers are 5-3 this season and have won three-straight; two of those wins were in the McPherson WBB Classic against AIB and Northern New Mexico College. The most recent victory for BC came against Central Christian College. The 71-53 win was the second time Bethel had defeated CCC this season.
Against the Tigers, BC led from the get-go and took a 36-25 lead into the locker room. The Lady Threshers came out in the second half and continued to push, taking the 71-53 win. Bethel made 28-of-61 in the contest with 4-of-7 three-point baskets falling; they also converted on 11-of-18 from the foul line. Central went 16-of-59 from the floor and made 6-of-26 from downtown; they were 15-of-18 from the stripe. The Threshers won the rebounding battle by two with their 42 boards, 10 came on the offensive end. BC turned the ball over 20 times but also had 20 assists; they recorded 16 steals while forcing 26 Tiger turnovers.
Lauren Ulrich tabbed 11 points to lead Bethel in scoring; she connected on 4-of-11 with one three ball and a pair of free throws. Brieanna Zerger and April Harpe each tallied 10 points; Zerger scored hers off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting with two foul shots while Harpe went 4-of-7 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. Taylor Durant led the team in rebounds with nine; she also scored six in the victory.
Bethel is averaging 58 points per game and have a -1.25 score margin; the team makes 35.1% of their shots from the floor and net three from downtown each time out. The Threshers connect on 67.8 percent from the foul line and 25.5 from beyond the arc. This year, they tally 40 rebounds, 10.5 assists, 23.4 turnovers and 11.75 steals per contest. The defense is ranked first in the KCAC in points allowed with 59.25. Currently, the team is fourth in the NAIA in defensive three-point percentage (21.4) and sixth in defensive field goal percentage (34.1).
Ulrich scores a team-high 13.5 points an outing, making 30.4% from the floor and has connected on a team leading 10 three balls and 36 free throws; she makes just 25% of her shots from distance and 80 from the line. Harpe is also averaging double-digits this season, bucketing 10.9; she also has recorded a team-high 62 rebounds, pulling down 7.8 a contest. Jessica Ebenkamp has amassed 25 steals to top the team while playing nearly 30 minutes per game; she tallies a NAIA 14th best 3.13 steals each time she steps on the court.
The second KCAC matchup of the season for BC is also on the road; they travel to Sterling College for their Saturday night matchup.
