Columbia, Mo. – Traveling to the Cost Cutters Tip-Off Classic hosted by Columbia College, the Lady Bulldogs dropped the tournament's opener 59-48 to the host Cougars.
After trailing early, the Bulldogs finished the opening quarter strong, on a 7-0 run to take a 19-14 lead into the second. McPherson had a tough time scoring in the second 10 minutes, bucketing just six points. Fortunately, the Cougars were a bit off as well and only led 26-25 at the break. Mac shot in 10-of-28 in the first half and was 4-of-8 from deep; as a team, they shot just two free throws and made one. CC cashed in on 11-of-32 field goals with just 1-of-14 threes dropping.
In the second half, McPherson battled back and went back and forth with the Cougars. After being tied at 30-30, Columbia outscored Mac 9-5 to head into the final quarter up 39-35. Free throws were the name of the game for CC in the final 10 minutes as they held off any late surge from the Bulldogs and took the game 59-48. MC scored on 10-of-23 from the floor but just 1-of-5 from behind the arc; the Bulldogs only took four tries from the foul line and made two. Columbia went 10-of-25 for the second half with 4-of-10 threes; the Cougars converted on 9-of-13 free throws.
McPherson ended the game hitting 20-of-55 from the floor with 5-of-13 three balls dropping; they went 50% from the stripe, making 3-of-6. The team pulled in 37 rebounds including 12 offensive boards. 20 turnovers and seven assists were logged by the 'Dogs along with seven steals and four blocks.
Bailey Brown led MC in both points and minutes; the senior scored 10 points in her 31 minutes of playing time. Both Sunny Smart and Reagan McClellan tallied eight points; Smart went 2-of-5 from three and 1-of-2 from two-point land while McClellan hit 4-of-6 field goals. The two starting posts for Mac tallied 17 rebounds and nine points.
The Bulldogs will take on William Woods University tomorrow, November 7 at 1:00 p.m. (CT) in their final game of the Cost Cutters Tip-Off Classic.
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
