Salina, Kan. – A rough first half for the McPherson College women's basketball team, 19 points, put the Bulldogs too far behind as the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes took the game 77-58. MC sits at 4-20 on the year and 3-9 in the conference.
The two teams traded the lead for the first several minutes on Saturday but a 10-0 run by Kansas Wesleyan midway through the half put the Lady Coyotes up 18-7. Mac kept it close for the next few but KWU surged forward down the stretch and took a 35-19 advantage into the locker room; turnovers were a big factor for the Bulldogs as they gave it away 15 times in the opening 20 minutes. MC made just seven field goals, they took 21 shots; the 'Dogs went 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and a poor 2-of-8 from the charity stripe. Kansas Wesleyan shot in 50%, 13-of-26, including 4-of-11 from deep.
Within the first four minutes of the second half, KWU pushed their lead into the 20s. McPherson trailed by 20+ for all but a few possessions in the second half and dropped the game 77-58. The Lady 'Dogs improved their shooting percentage as 11-of-27 shots fell; they were 4-of-9 from range and 13-of-19 from the foul line. KWU made 15-of-33 field goals and were a perfect 9-of-9 from the stripe.
For the game, McPherson scored on 18-of-48 field goals with 7-of-18 three balls finding their way in; the team dropped 15-of-27 free throws, 55.6%. Mac totaled 32 rebounds including 13 off the offensive glass. They logged 21 turnovers as well as seven assists, six steals, and three blocks. Only 20 of the Bulldogs' total came within the paint and 15 were second-chance points.
Bailey Brown tallied a game-high 21 points on 7-of-12 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws; she went a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the three-point line. The Smarts, Sunny and Georgia, each tallied 11 points for Mac. S. Smart was 2-of-8 from three, 1-of-2 from two, and 3-of-4 from the foul line; the junior also had a team-high two blocks and two steals. G. Smart hit just 2-of-7 from the floor but made 7-of-13 free throws; she also recorded a team-high 11 rebounds. Whitney Jefferson led the team in assists with four and also added in five points.
MC will travel to Tabor College on February 5th for their next contest; start time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (CT)
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
