Salina, Kan. – After trailing 32-28 at the break, a strong third quarter put the MC women's basketball team in the driver seat as they were up 51-47 with 10 minutes to play. Unfortunately, Dakota State University won the final period 24-9, giving them the 71-60 win in game one of the Rib Crip-Kansas Wesleyan Coyote Classic.
The Bulldogs started the game in a six-point hole but an 8-0 run rectified that; the rest of the quarter was controlled by MC who took a 21-14 advantage into the second. DSU jumped ahead on a 12-4 run in the opening minutes of the period and were able to maintain a slight lead the rest of the way, heading into the break up 32-28. McPherson made 11-of-29 from the floor in the first half with 2-of-6 three balls falling through; they hit only 50% of their eight free throws. The Trojans upped their shooting percentage in the second half to give them a 39.3 percentage at halftime; the team connected on 11-of-28 field goals and 7-of-10 from the charity stripe.
After falling to nine down, Mac went on a pair of runs to pull close then take the lead in the final minutes; the 'Dogs were up 51-47 with just one quarter remaining. For as well as MC shot in the third, Dakota State played about lights out in the fourth. The Trojans took the lead less than three minutes in and didn't look back. McPherson had their chances but shots just wouldn't fall, leading to the 11-point defeat, 71-60. The Bulldogs went 9-of-16 in the third but just 2-of-11 in the fourth for a 40.7 second-half shooting percentage; the team bucketed 7-of-10 from the line. DSU drained 14-of-26 in the final 20 minutes including 7-of-10 in the fourth quarter; they went 9-of-10 from the stripe.
McPherson closed out the game with a 39.3 field goal percentage, 22-of-56, with 5-of-16 three balls; the 'Dogs converted 11-of-18 from the free throw line. Mac grabbed 33 rebounds with 13 off the offensive glass; they also tallied 20 turnovers, 12 steals, 11 assists, and four blocks. 28 points were scored in the paint while 15 of their total came off those offensive boards.
Bailey Brown had a career-high 23 points for MC on 7-of-13 field goals including 4-of-5 from behind the arc and 5-of-5 from the stripe; the senior also had five steals, two assists, and two rebounds in her 33 minutes. Both Ashton Bruner and Amanda Allen scored 10 for the Bulldogs on 4-of-11 shooting with a pair of free throws; Bruner pulled in seven rebounds while Allen had six. Reagan McClellan scored just three points but had a team-high five assists.
McPherson will take on Mount Marty College tomorrow, December 30th in the final game of the calendar year; tipoff for the Wednesday afternoon contest is set for 12:00 p.m. (CT)
Make sure to follow Bulldog Nation on Facebook (MCathletics) and Twitter (@MAC_Bulldogs)
McPherson College is a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference member school and a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
