Shawnee, Okla. – After taking a 39-27 lead into the locker room, the MC women's basketball team came out and struggled in the second, giving Saint Gregory's University the window they needed to take the 88-63 victory.
The game started great for the Bulldogs as a three-ball was drained by Megan Acklin on their first possession; the team led throughout the opening quarter with the largest lead being eight points. MC made it to the free throw line numerous times and ended the first 10 minutes making 9-of-12; they held an 18-12 advantage heading into the second. McPherson would increase their lead and used a 10-0 run towards the end of the half to put them up 14; the team went into the locker room up 39-27 at the break.
Mac dropped in 12-of-23 in the game's first 20 minutes; they went 5-of-11 from range and netted 10-of-13 from the stripe. SGU scored on 8-of-27 field goals with just 2-of-12 threes falling; the team made 9-of-12 from the charity stripe.
The third quarter was one that McPherson would like to forget. The Cavaliers started the period on a 17-0 run to take the lead; Mac's first bucket came with nearly five minutes gone by. Saint Gregory's kept hitting their shots and the 'Dogs did not. Heading into the final quarter, SGU held a 66-48 advantage; MC lost the third period, 39-9. In the fourth, the Cavs held a 20+ lead for all but a couple possessions and took the game on their home court 88-63.
After such a solid first half, the Bulldogs went a poor 8-of-26 from the floor and went oh-fer from behind the arc, 0-of-8; the team made 8-of-13 from the line. Conversely, SGU heavily improved their shooting percentage as 20-of-37 field goals dropped in; they connected on 7-of-14 from deep, with five in the third, and 14-of-16 from the stripe.
McPherson ended the game shooting 40.8%. The 'Dogs were 20-of-49 from the field, 5-of-19 from distance, and 18-of-26 from the foul line. The team tallied 31 rebounds with just four offensive boards. They had season-high 25 turnovers along with 11 assists and just six steals. 28 of MC's point total came in the paint while 14 were scored from the bench.
For as bad as the team shot, Bailey Brown had an incredible night; the senior scored 21 points on 6-of-8 shooting from both the field and the foul line. Brown also had eight rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. Georgia Smart was the only other MC player to hit double figures with her 13 points on 4-of-9 field goals and 5-of-7 free throws; she pulled in four defensive boards and also had three blocks.
Conference play starts on Thursday as the 'Dogs travel to Winfield, Kansas to take on the Southwestern College Moundbuilders. Tipoff for the matchup is set 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
