McPherson, Kan. – It's no wonder eagles are becoming extinct after the Lady Bulldogs took down their second set in as many games on Thursday. Mac hit a couple of big shots late in the game to take the 63-60 win over Southwestern Christian University in their final game before holiday break.
McPherson started the game out in front and led by as many as five by the midway point of the opening quarter but a run by SCU to end the period gave the Eagles a 21-19 advantage. In the second, both teams had a tough time shooting as they went a combined 8-of-25 from the field, 32%; the quarter was split 12-12 putting the halftime score at 33-31 in favor of Southwestern Christian. MC dropped in 10-of-25 from the floor with 4-of-11 coming from behind the arc; they netted 7-of-10 free throws. The Eagles connected on 12-of-27 field goals including a solid 50% from deep, 5-of-10; they made 4-of-7 from the stripe.
The Bulldogs made their charge in the third quarter, jumping out in front early and not giving up the lead for the entire period. Mac took advantage of some poor shooting by SCU and headed into the fourth up 45-44. McPherson stayed out in front and went up by as many as nine points but some clutch three-point shooting tied the score at 60 with less than a minute to play. Just like they did in the game on Tuesday, Ashton Bruner found Sunny Smart for a go-ahead three ball with 30 seconds to go. A blocked three-point attempt by Bailey Brown put the ball back in Mac's hands and gave the Bulldogs the 63-60 victory. MC hit on 12-of-23 from the field in the second half with 3-of-9 three balls; they saw five of their seven free throws go down. SCU upped their shooting in the fourth quarter, pushing them to a 9-of-27 final 20 minutes with 5-of-13 from distance; they converted on only 4-of-8 from the line.
McPherson shot in 22-of-48 field goals in the game with 7-of-20 coming from beyond the three-point line; they put 12-of-17 free throws through the net as well. The team brought down 35 rebounds and also tallied 14 assists, 12 turnovers, four steals, and three blocks; this is just the fourth time the team has recorded more assists than turnovers in a game.
Smart scored a career-high 18 points on her best shooting performance of the year; the senior made 6-of-7 from the floor with 4-of-5 threes and knocked in 2-of-3 free throws as well. Bruner scored 14 points on 5-of-10 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws; she was just one rebound away from another double-double but did have a team-high five assists. Both Amanda Allen and Bailey Brown scored nine points for the Bulldogs.
After a 12-day break, the Lady 'Dogs will head to Salina, Kansas for the RibCrib-Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic. They are slated to take on Dakota State University on Friday the 29th at 2:00 p.m. (CT) and then Mount Marty College on that Saturday at 12:00
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McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
