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McPherson, Kan. – The 2014-15 conference season is upon us and the McPherson College women's basketball team will kick off the year in Lindsborg, Kansas with a 6:00 p.m. (CT) matchup with the Bethany College Swedes on December 4th; junior varsity will play at 2:00.
MC enters Thursday's contest following a 68-55 loss to Oklahoma Wesleyan University on the day before Thanksgiving Break. In that Tuesday evening game, Mac had a strong showing in the opening minutes but were put into the back seat following an 11-0 run by the Eagles. McPherson trailed by 10 at the break, 35-25, after shooting in 10-of-29 from the field.
In the second half, the Bulldogs did not have a good start allowing OKWU to increase their lead. The two teams traded points for the middle portion of the period but the 'Dogs never got their deficit back into single figures. Oklahoma Wesleyan took the game at 68-55; Mac scored on 11-of-34 from the floor but just 1-of-11 from deep.
At the end of the night, McPherson shot in 33.3% of their field goals, 21-of-63, and 71.4% from the stripe, 10-of-14; the 'Dogs struggled from three-point land, cashing in on a mere 15%, 3-of-20. The team outrebounded Oklahoma Wesleyan 43-40 and also accrued 12 assists, six blocks and four steals. The majority of Mac's points came in the paint as they scored 42.
Three Bulldogs made it into double-digits with Sunny Smart leading the charge with 18; she went 6-of-20 from the floor and 4-of-6 from the foul line. The junior recorded a double-double with her 10 rebounds. Bailey Brown was 6-of-14 from the field and made 3-of-4 free throws for her 16; she had seven rebounds and joined Smart with a team-high three assists. Alicia Demerat scored 11 points for McPherson and added in a pair of blocks. Georgia Smart led the 'Dogs in blocks with four.
Bulldogs in the NAIA D-II Rankings: Sunny Smart is sixth in the Nation in three-point baskets this season with 30; she is 12th in three balls made per game at 3.0. The team ranks 11th in defensive three-point field goal percentage at 23.8% and are 18th in total rebounds with 438.
The second KCAC game of the year is also on the road for McPherson as they travel to North Newton to take on the Bethel College Threshers on Saturday the 6th; start time is set for 5:00 p.m. with JV at 1:00
Scouting Bethany
After losing their first seven games of the year, the Lady Swedes got their first win on November 18th as they took down Mid-America Christian 65-54. BC has been defeated by 20+ five times.
In their victory over the Evangels, Bethany got in the hole early but rallied and eventually took their lead into double-digits just past the midway point of the half. MACU then went on a 12-0 run to take the lead back but the Swedes were able to take a 35-28 advantage into the break. The second period went back-and-forth with BC holding a slight lead for most of the final 20 minutes. After leading by as many as 14, Bethany coasted to their 11-point victory.
The Swedes knocked in 22-of-64 from the field and 7-of-20 three balls in their home gym; they counted 14-of-21 free throws. BC lost the rebounding battle 56-45 but had seven less turnovers than Mid-America Christian. Adriane Davis led the game in scoring with her 31 which came on an 11-of-24 night; she was 4-of-9 from distance and 5-of-7 from the stripe. Royce Shields was the only other BC player to hit double-digits as she scored 20; the guard bucketed 7-of-16 field goals and 4-of-6 foul shots.
This season Bethany is scoring just over 60 points a game while allowing 84 on average. The team converts 33.3% of their field goals including 26.3% from distance; they are making just 59.8 percent from the foul stripe. The Swedes are being outrebounded nearly every game as they pull in just 34.5 boards each time out. BC nets 18 turnovers, 8.3 steals, and 2.0 blocks per contest.
Davis leads the Swedes in scoring this season with her 164 points, a 20.5 average; the sophomore has made a team-high 57 field goals and 21 from deep. Shields also tallies double figures on average, scoring 14.7 a night; she has made a team leading 29 free throws and leads the way in rebounds at 5.4 per contest. Alex Brammer enters from the bench and is scoring just over 10 points a game; she is shooting in just 28.3% from the floor but has accumulated 13 assists this year, tying her for the team-high. After those three, the next highest scoring average is 3.0 points.
Bethany travels to Ottawa University for their next game on December 5th.
