Women's Basketball | 1/27/2014 3:17:00 PM
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McPherson, Kan. – Following a disappointing loss to the Bethel Threshers on Saturday, Lady Bulldog basketball will try to get back on the winning side of things as they host the Spires of the University of Saint Mary on January 29
th; start time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CT)
In their tussle with BC, the 'Dogs trailed early but were never behind by more than a couple baskets and eventually took over with four minutes left in the first half. After a foul-heavy final few, the Lady Threshers took a 33-32 lead into the locker room. Mac hit on 10-of-28 from the floor and made their lone three-point basketball for the game; the squad knocked down 11-of-14 from the free throw line. Bethel converted 14 of their 29 field goals but were just 1-of-9 from range; 4-of-8 foul shots fell through in the first 20 minutes.
The Lady Bulldogs were in the back seat for the first part of the second period but jumped in front at the midway point of the half following a 10-0 run. MC was on top for the next several minutes but a string of 16-straight points put the home team back in front. In the final two minutes, McPherson made one last attempt to take the game but were denied, losing 74-69. Mac drained 44.4 percent of their 27 field goals, 12-of-27, but missed all five from the arc; they struggled from the stripe as just 13-of-23 went in. Bethel scored on 12-of-28 from the floor with 2-of-4 three balls going in; they made more than their average from the foul stripe, knocking down 15-of-18.
A 22-of-55 night was logged by the 'Dogs as they nailed 40% from the floor; they were 1-of-16 from deep and 24-of-37. They pulled in 37 rebounds, two less than the Threshers, with 17 being on the offensive side of the court. 16 turnovers, 12 assists, six steals and one block were recorded by Mac in their loss.
Aubrey Barton scored a game-high 23 on 6-of-11 from the floor and 11-of-13 from the stripe; she also netted 11 rebounds and the squad's lone block. Bailey Brown tabbed 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting with 6-of-8 free throws dropping through; the sophomore led the team in assists with four. The final MC player to hit double-digits was Cami Engelbert as she tallied 11 on 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-7 from the stripe; she pulled down seven rebounds.
Scouting the Bulldogs: The 'Dogs sit at 7-15 on the year and 3-7 against KCAC teams which puts them tied for seventh in the league. The squad make 35.7 percent from the field and average 60.2 points per game; they cash in on over five three balls a night while counting 27.5 percent from deep. They net just a hair under 40 rebounds an outing and have a positive rebounding margin for the season. Mac tabs 18.9 turnovers, 12.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 2.1 blocks a game. Against their KCAC foes, the team scores 61 points per contest, hitting 37.8 percent from the floor. Their 71.8 free throw percentage ranks first amongst league schools. Through the first 10 games, MC is only rebounding 34.7 boards, second worst in the conference; they are fourth in blocks and assists per game with 2.60 and 12.50, respectively.
It's on the road again for Mac after their contest with the Spires; they travel to Sterling, Kansas for a 5:00 p.m. game with the Lady Warriors on February 1st.
Scouting Saint Mary
The Lady Spires have won three of their 19 games this season, two coming against KCAC squads; USM took out Bethany then Bethel in the early goings of January but have since lost four-straight. The team's most recent defeat came versus Southwestern College to the tune of 97-58.
Saint Mary kept it interesting for the first 20 minutes, only trailing by 11 at the break but the Builders turned up the heat in their home gym in the second half, scoring 61 points for a 97-58 triumph. The Spires knocked down 19 of their 63 shots with 7-of-27 going through from behind the three-point line; they counted 13-of-17 from the charity stripe. 39 rebounds were recorded by USM, 15 offensive, as were 23 turnovers, 15 assists, five steals and one block.
Mariah Marusak led the Spires from the floor with 14 as she bucketed 4-of-12 with three going in from long range; she also connected on 3-of-4 free throws. Next on the list was Adelyn Ezeh who scored 12 on a 50% shooting night, draining 5-of-10 with a pair of free throws; she also grabbed six boards, second on the team. Shanice Palmer led the club in rebounds with 14, 11 on the defensive side of the court; she scored seven. The team's top assister was Adrianna Brown who tabbed seven in her team's loss.
USM scores 59.7 each time out and has a negative scoring margin of 19.1; they bucket 31.9 percent of their field goals while knocking in 25.1 from behind the arc. The team puts up close to 20 three balls a night, making just over seven. Through their 19 games, they've pulled in an average of 36.4 rebounds and log 19.5 turnovers, 8.6 assists, 6.5 steals and less than one block. When facing KCAC schools, Saint Mary scores 55.7 points while shooting a conference worst 32.7 percent from the field; they drain six threes a game, making a league low 25%. The defense gives up the most amongst conference schools at 73.9ppg; opponents are cashing in on 42.2 percent of their field goals. They are in the bottom half of the KCAC in rebounds (35.3), assists (8.5), steals (6.2), blocks (0.6), and turnovers (19.0).
Palmer leads the current Spires in points per game with 9.4 and is quickly followed by Ezeh who makes 9.2; Palmer has made a team-high 72 free throws and pulls down 6.3 boards while Ezeh leads the squad in field goals counted with 55. The best three-baller is Jennifer Harmon who has drained 30 from deep, making 25% of her tries.
Saint Mary has a two-game home stand for their next two contests, hosting Friends and then Kansas Wesleyan.
