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McPherson, Kan. – In their first home game of the conference season, the McPherson College women's basketball team will take on the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes. Start time for the December 11th contest is slated for 6:00 p.m. (CT) in the Sport Center.
Mac heads into Thursday's game with a 1-1 KCAC record after defeating Bethany College this past Thursday and then losing to Bethel College on Saturday. In their matchup with the Lady Threshers, MC held the first-half lead most of the way with it peaking at 13 points. After several turnovers by the Bulldogs, the teams went into halftime all tied at 32. McPherson only took 22 shots in the opening 20 minutes but made nine while BC went 11-of-34.
The second half went back-and-forth with both squads staying stride for stride with their opponent. MC held the lead midway through the period but went cold from the field in the final minutes; the team scored just 10 points in the last seven minutes of the contest. Bethel scored five more points than the 'Dogs to earn the 69-64 victory. A 0-of-9 showing from deep hindered Mac in the second half; the team made 12-of-29 from the floor. The Threshers scored on 39% of their field goals.
McPherson closed out the game converting 21 of their 51 shot attempts; they went 4-of-20 from long range and 18-of-30 from the free throw line. The team outrebounded BC 50-36 and tabbed 12 offensive boards. Mac threw the ball away 27 times while picking up 13 assists, six blocks, and five steals.
Bailey Brown scored a game-high 23 on 7-of-11 shooting with 9-of-13 foul shots dropping in; she also had seven rebounds and four assists. Next on the team was Sunny Smart who scored 11 and also racked up 14 rebounds; she had three assists. Alicia Demaret recorded a team-high three blocks and added in five boards.
McPherson in the NAIA D-II Rankings: Sunny Smart sits sixth in the Nation in total three-point field goals made with 36 and is 11th in threes made per game at 3.0. Bailey Brown is 12th in the country in total scoring at 208. As a team, Mac ranks ninth in total rebounds at 538 and are 10th in three-point defensive field goal percentage at 24%.
The final game of 2014 is on December 13th for MC as they host Tabor College at 5:00 p.m. in McPherson.
Scouting Kansas Wesleyan
The Lady Coyotes are 6-3 on the year and currently are receiving votes nationally. The team headed into last week's KCAC opener on a three-game winning streak but a lopsided 86-46 loss to No. 9 Friends University ended their run. KWU is coming off an 85-67 victory this past weekend over the University of Saint Mary.
Kansas Wesleyan led from the get-go on the Spires as they got ahead 12-2 in the opening minutes. Saint Mary battled back and took the lead around the seven-minute mark and the two teams went back and forth the rest of the way. At halftime, USM held a 40-35 advantage; both teams shot the ball well in the first period with the Spires hitting on 50% from the floor.
In the second, KWU charged back and tied it up for the fifth time in the game. A 16-4 run by the Coyotes put them up 12 and gave them a lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the way. Kansas Wesleyan hit their free throws late to preserve the win.
The Lady Coyotes ended the night making 28-of-56 from the floor and cashed in on an incredible 13 three balls, they shot 32; the team also converted 16-of-19 from the foul stripe. It was a low rebounding game as both teams shot the ball well; KWU was outrebounded 29-28 and had just six offensive boards. Kansas Wesleyan tabbed 12 steals, 11 assists, and 10 turnovers.
Leading the scoring for the Coyotes was Vanessa Kresin who scored 17 on 6-of-15 shooting along with a pair of free throws; the senior also led the team in steals with four and assists with three. Kalie LeShore added in 13 on 4-of-5 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the foul line. Karlie Steinle was the final double-digit scorer with her 12; she made 4-of-7 field goals and both of her attempts from the stripe.
On the year, KWU leads the conference in nine categories including scoring per game at 81.6 points; they area also first in field goal percentage, 45%, and three-point shooting percentage at 36.1%. The team records 37.7 rebounds a night along with 18 turnovers, 15.8 assists, 12.6 steals and two blocks.
Individually, Jenna Farris is scoring a team-high 14.9 per contest and has made a team-high 48 field goals including 22 from behind the arc. Kresin is next in scoring with her 12.0 average; she is the top rebounder for KWU with her 5.4 boards a night; she also has stolen away a team leading 18 balls. Steinle is the final player to scored double figures each time out as she is netting 11.1 a game while playing in a team-high 237 minutes; the guard leads the team in free throws made with 31-of-38 dropping through.
The Coyotes will take on Bethel College in their last KCAC game of the year.
