Women's Basketball | 1/23/2014 11:03:00 AM
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McPherson, Kan. – The second set of KCAC games begins on Saturday and the McPherson women take to the road, traveling to North Newton, Kansas to play the Bethel College Lady Threshers; start time for the January 25
th contest is 5:00 p.m. (CT)
What would have been the upset of the year nearly took place on the floor of the Sport Center on Wednesday as Mac almost took out the conference No. 1 and NAIA No. 11 Southwestern College Moundbuilders. After getting in a double-digit hole early, the 'Dogs clawed their way back and pulled within four before heading into the locker room. MC converted on 15-of-32 in the first half, making 5-of-15 from the three-point arc; they also made 2-of-3 from the foul line. The Lady Builders knocked down over 50% of their shots, hitting 17-of-29 including 7-of-14 from deep; they missed their lone free throw attempt.
Mac continued to climb in the second half and took their first lead of the game less than five minutes into the period. The Bulldogs stayed out in front for a few possessions but then the lead began being traded; McPherson's largest advantage was four. The final tie of the contest came with under five to play at 62-62. Southwestern scored next and then stayed on top the rest of the way, ending the game on a 11-5 run for the 73-67 victory. MC connected on 8-of-21 from the floor but just 2-of-12 from long range; they continued to hit from the stripe, making 12-of-15. The Moundbuilders scored on 11-of-27 with five from behind the three-point line; they made 5-of-7 from the foul line.
McPherson posted a respectable 43.4 field goal percentage for the night, hitting 25-of-53 including 7-of-27 from long range; they shot in 77.8% of their free throws, 14-of-18. Only 30 boards were gobbled up by MC, losing the rebounding title by three. The 'Dogs won the turnover battle, logging just 12 to go with their 20 assists, six steals and two blocks. 39 of the team's points were scored in the paint while 20 came from the bench players.
Barton closed out the game with a team-high 20 points on a 6-of-13 showing from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 from the stripe; she also netted two steals, two assists and a team leading eight rebounds. Sunny Smart cashed in on three from distance in the opening period but could not find the basket in the second, ending the contest with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting. Bre Gillespie scored eight points while tabbing five assists. Leading the way in dimes was Whitney Jefferson who recorded six to go along with her five points and five rebounds.
Lady Bulldogs in the National Rankings: The MC women are now 27th in the NAIA D-II in Defensive Field Goal Percentage, holding their opponents to 37.1%; they also rank 28th in Scoring Defense per Game at 64.762. Barton remains the lone 'Dog to be ranked individually, sitting 45th in Total Blocks with 22.
Scouting McPherson: The Lady 'Dogs are scoring just under 60 points in their 21 games, making 35.5% from the field and 28.4 percent from distance; the team buckets 5.4 three balls a night. They total a fraction less than 40 rebounds a contest and have a positive rebounding margin of 0.6. The squad tabs 19.1 turnovers, 12.4 assists, 8.1 steals and 2.2 blocks each time they hit the court. In their nine conference games, Mac nets just over 60 points an outing, counting 37.6 percent from the floor including 28.6 from deep; they are first in the KCAC in free throw percentage at 73.1%. Their 34.44 rebounds a night puts them ninth in the league; they are third in both blocks a game, 2.78, and steals, 7.78, while being fourth in assists at 12.56.
MC will be at home for their next battle as they host the University of Saint Mary on January 29th; start time will be at 6:00 p.m.
Scouting Bethel
The 9-10, 3-6 Lady Threshers will be going into Saturday's game with some momentum as they have won two-straight, giving them their second and third KCAC wins of the year; the squad took out Kansas Wesleyan 89-88 in overtime last Saturday and then Bethany College on Wednesday 71-64. This weekend's game will only be Bethel's third home KCAC game of the year as their gym was flooded and being replaced during the first part of the season.
In their road game with the Swedes, Bethel outscored Bethany by seven in a low-scoring opening period 27-22. In the second, the two teams were even, each scoring 42 giving the Lady Threshers the 71-64 victory. Both squads shot the ball relatively well with Bethel making 25-of-54 with five threes dropping while Bethany scored on 24-of-57, also with five from range; the Threshers cashed in on 16-of-21 from the stripe, giving them the slight edge over the Swedes' 11-of-16. Bethel pulled in one more rebounds, tabbing 27 for the game with 10 offensive boards; they also netted 15 turnovers, 16 assists, and seven steals.
Forward Taylor Durant had a career-game for Bethel, scoring a game-high 24 points; she went 10-of-14 from the field and a perfect 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Lauren Ulrich has come on late for the Threshers and totaled 15 on Wednesday; she knocked in 4-of-9 field goals and 5-of-6 free throws. April Harpe played in a team-high 32 minutes and recorded 14 points, going 6-of-8 from the foul line and 2-of-2 from the stripe; she also grabbed a team leading seven rebounds.
Bethel has put in 59.1 points a game this year, making 35.2 percent from the floor; they've counted a mere 63 three balls on the season, hitting 25.5% and 3.3 a contest. Over 40 rebounds a night are grabbed by the Lady Threshers, as are 19.4 turnovers, 11 assists, 9.8 steals and 0.9 blocks. In their nine conference games thus far, they bucket 58.22 points per game but are allowing 66.56; they drain 36.5 percent from the field, second worst in the KCAC. They total eight steals each time out, second highest in the conference, and their 37.33 rebounds a night put them fifth in the league.
Harpe is scoring a team-high 12.8 points per contest, bucketing 55.4 percent of her shots; she also leads the way in rebounds with a 9.1 average. Ulrich has a 12.6 points a game average in her team leading 572 minutes played; the sophomore has hit 28 three balls this season and is also the club's best assister with 55 dimes.
The Lady Threshers are at home for the Sterling College Warriors on January 29th.
