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McPherson, Kan. – After an eight-day break from games, the MC women's basketball team will be back in action on Thursday, December 3 as they take on the Kansas Wesleyan University Coyotes in Salina, Kansas; the JV game is scheduled for a 2:00 p.m. (CT) start with the varsity tipoff set for 6:00.
Scouting McPherson
Mac is currently just 3-6 on the year but are 2-1 in the KCAC. The last time the Lady 'Dogs were on the court they left with a sour taste in their mouths as Ottawa University hit a NBA-range three-point bucket at the buzzer to take the game 60-58.
Last Time Out – McPherson was clearly the better team for the first two quarters against the Braves as they looked to score at ease in the opening minutes and then went on to lead 34-27 at halftime. After the break, OU took over and got ahead by to double figures. Mac made a late third-quarter run to tie things up heading into the final 10 minutes. The Bulldog's offense kept rolling into the fourth and it looked as if MC was in full control. After going 1-of-4 from the foul stripe in the closing minute, a couple baskets by Ottawa, including the one at the buzzer, gave the Braves their first KCAC win of the year. McPherson made 40.4% for the game but struggled from deep, hitting a mere 2-of-14 from deep; they shot just 15 free throws, making 10. They logged 41 rebounds, 17 turnovers, 13 assists, eight steals, and five blocks.
Bailey Brown scored a team-high 14 points on 6-of-9 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws; she also grabbed six rebounds and had led the way in assists with five. Both Reagan McClellan and Ashton Bruner totaled 10 points. McClellan was 4-of-6 from the floor and also hit 2-of-5 foul shots; she led the team in steals with four and also had four assists. Bruner hit 4-of-10 from the floor and 2-of-4 from the stripe; she tallied a team-high seven rebounds.
Year at a Glance – The 'Dogs are in the middle of the KCAC pack in terms of statistics. They rank sixth in total points scored at 66.7 and at scoring defense at 67.0; they sit in fifth in scoring margin at -0.3. The team is making 39.3% of their field goals with just 27.9 percent going in from deep; they connect on 70.2 percent from the charity stripe, fourth highest in the league. Mac is also fourth in rebounding and rebounding margin at 41.2 and 4.6, respectively. They rank second in both assists a night, 13.0, and blocked shots per game, 3.7.
Brown is the lone player to average double-digits with her 15.0 a night; she leads the way in both field goals, 37-of-77, and free throws made, 51-of-60, while pulling in 5.2 boards. Bruner is a couple tenths away from the 10-point mark at 9.6 points per game; she is grabbing a team-high 8.3 rebounds each time out and also has 20 assists. The Smart sisters, no relation, are both close to averaging eight points a game; Sunny leads the team in three-point buckets with 16 while Georgia is second in free throw makes at 22-of-29.
It's back home for MC after Thursday's contest; the Bulldogs are scheduled to play Friends University on Saturday the 5th with JV starting the day at 1:00 p.m. and varsity getting underway at 5:00.
Scouting Kansas Wesleyan
The Coyotes are the early surprise for the KCAC this season with their 8-2 overall record. The team is 2-1 in the conference with wins over then-No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan University at Bethany College; their lone league loss was a 12-point defeat to preseason KCAC No. 1 Tabor College. Most recently KWU traveled to Peru State University and won a 78-54 outing.
Last Time Out – It was all Kansas Wesleyan in the opening quarter as, after starting the game on a 23-0 run, they led 27-4 after the first 10 minutes; PSC went 2-of-11 from the field while the Coyotes made 10-of-14. It was a pretty even final 30 minutes but KWU held too great of a lead and took the game 78-54. Kansas Wesleyan shot an even 50% for the game, making 25-of-50 shot attempts; they netted 4-of-14 three-point buckets and 24-of-32 foul shots. The team ended the night with 35 rebounds, 25 turnovers, 20 steals, 10 assists, and one block.
Both Jordyn Alexander and Jenna Farris totaled 18 points; Alexander made 6-of-8 field goals and 6-of-9 free throws for her total while Farris netted 7-of-12 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the stripe. Ashley Grant entered the game from the bench to score her 11 points; she was 3-of-7 from the field and 5-of-7 from the charity stripe.
Year at a Glance – The Coyotes are essentially second in the KCAC in scoring. They rank second in points per game (73.1), field goal percentage (40.8%), three-point field goal percentage (34.7%), and free throw percentage (72.5%). The team is allowing a league leading 60.2 points a night and have a scoring margin of 12.9. They pull in 42.1 rebounds a night and hold a rebounding margin of 7.5. KWU tallies 16.1 turnovers, 11.2 assists, 8.3 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game.
Farris is scoring 18.1 points a night; she has made a team-high 63 field goals with 19 from behind the arc. Alexander sits at 11.9 ppg and leads the Coyotes in field goal percentage at 54.7%; she also tops the team in rebounding average at 7.0. Stephanie Lichtenauer nets 9.3 points per game and also grabs 5.4 rebounds each time out. Both Bethany Barlow and Karlie Steinle are in the eight-point range for scoring; Barlow is second on the team in three-point buckets with 14 while Steinle leads the way in assists with 24.
A trip to Sterling, Kansas is next for KWU as they are set to play Sterling College on December 5th.
