McPherson, Kan. – It was a night of scoring for the McPherson College women's basketball team as they racked up 106 points on Central Christian College in the "Battle for McPherson." The Bulldogs took the game 106-49, giving them their first win of the 2015 season. The team's 100-point total was the first time McPherson has hit triple figures since 2006.
The Lady Tigers kept pace with MC for the first few minutes of the opening period but a 19-0 run by the Bulldogs put Mac up 29-7; the first quarter ended at 31-10. The second was a much more even half as the teams traded baskets most of the way. A couple of mini-runs by McPherson gave them a 53-26 halftime lead. The 'Dogs connected on 22-of-34 field goals in the game's first 20 minutes with 32 points coming in the paint; they went 5-of-8 from deep and made four of their six free throws. Central put in 28% of their 25 attempts; the team shot 17 threes and made six.
Coming out of the break, MC rolled. The Bulldogs put up 30 points while holding CCC to just nine; Mac led 83-35 with one quarter to go. With the team running down the shot clock on most of their possessions, McPherson netted 23 fourth-quarter points to the Tigers' 14, bringing the final to 106-49. The 'Dogs drained 17-of-27 from the floor with 3-of-6 threes; they also went a perfect 16-of-16 from the stripe. Central posted another 7-of-25 half with just 3-of-13 three-point buckets; the team made 6-of-10 free throws.
The Bulldogs shot an unbelievable 63.9% from the floor, 39-of-61, with over 50 percent of their threes dropping, 8-of-14; they converted on 20-of-22 free throws. MC scored 72 points in the paint, had 52 bench points, and 40 came off of turnovers. The team rebounded 43 balls compared to 19 of Central. They had 27 assists, 23 turnovers, and 20 steals.
Amanda Allen and Bailey Brown each led the team with 19 points. Allen went 8-of-10 from the field and hit her lone free throw for her total. Birthday girl Brown netted 5-of-6 free throws along with 7-of-9 two-point buckets; the senior had seven steals, pulled in four rebounds, and had three assists. Georgia Smart shot in 5-of-6 field goals and all four of her free throws for 14 points; she led the 'Dogs in rebounds with five. Sunny Smart also made it over 10 points with her 11 on 2-of-6 threes, 1-of-1 twos and three free throws. Junior transfer Reagan McClellan dished out a team-high five assists to go along with her eight points, five steals, and four boards.
Mac will head to Saint Gregory's University on Monday the 16th for a 6:00 p.m. (CT) tipoff.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
