Women's Basketball | 1/29/2014 11:39:00 PM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – 47 days and nine games later, the Mac women finally break out of their losing streak as they demolished the Spires of Saint Mary 64-45 on the heels of a 41-16 first half effort. The Lady 'Dogs are now 8-15 overall and 4-7 in the conference.
The opening half started slow for both squads as neither team hit double figures for the first six minutes; MC was the first to hit the 10-point mark and continued to push, getting ahead nine following a 15-0 run. McPherson's lead hit double-digits just over the midway point of the period and got as high as 25 which is how the first half finished, with the Bulldogs up 41-16; after trailing 8-2 to start the game, Mac ended on a 39-8 run. Freshman Callie Atkins scored a half-high 10 points for the 'Dogs. McPherson's bench outscored USM 22-2 in the first 20 minutes.
MC shot the ball very well in the first period, putting 14-of-31 through the net with 4-of-13 going in from distance; they were nearly perfect from the charity stripe, dropping 9-of-10. The Lady Spires had a very rough time putting the ball through the hoop, making just five field goals, 5-of-26, with two coming from long range; they connected on 4-of-6 from the free throw line.
In the second, the Lady Bulldogs quickly got ahead by 30 but then maintained a 20+ point lead throughout the final half, never in any danger of giving it up; Saint Mary brought it to 19 on a couple occasions including when the clock struck zeroes. Even though they lost the second period 29-23, McPherson took the game 64-45.
A 38.1% shooting performance was logged by the 'Dogs as they cashed in on 8-of-21 from the floor, making five of those from behind the arc; they went 2-of-3 from the stripe. USM knocked down just 7-of-29 with a 3-of-21 showing from deep; however, they converted on an impressive 12-of-13 from the foul line.
Mac shot 42.3 percent for the game, making 22-of-52 from the field including 9-of-24 from downtown, 37.5%; they made all but two of their free throws, going 11-of-13. The squad outrebounded the Spires by 10 with 43 total boards, 11 coming on the offensive side of the floor. The team posted an even 15 assists and 15 turnovers as well as eight steals and five blocks. 31 of the total for McPherson were scored by bench players and 35 points were netted in the paint.
Bailey Brown (Glen Elder, Kan.) was the leading scorer for MC as she put in 4-of-7 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the line; she also tabbed six rebounds, three assists and a team leading five steals. Chandler Short (Edgewood, Texas) knocked in four of her eight field goal tries, putting two in from deep as well as going 2-of-2 from the line for 12; she logged three assists and four rebounds in the team's win. Atkins (Stillwater, Okla.) closed out the night with 10 points, missing her two field goals and one free throw attempt in the second half; she was 4-of-8 for the night with a pair from deep for 10 points. Breahna Gillespie (Little River, Kan.) pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, scored seven, and had three assists.
MC will take off for Sterling, Kansas on Saturday, February 1 as they square off with the 8-13, 4-7 Lady Warriors; start time is set for 5:00 p.m. (CT)
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