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McPherson, Kan. – On February 12th, the McPherson College women's basketball team will head to Ottawa, Kansas to square off with the Ottawa University Braves; tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. (CT)
The Bulldogs are currently 4-22 on the year and sit at 3-11 in the KCAC which puts them in ninth place; there are just four conference games left this season and only the top eight teams make it into the postseason tournament. Mac is just one game behind the University of Saint Mary for the No. 8 spot but have a more difficult remaining schedule than the Lady Spires.
All statistics are from KCAC games only.
MC ranks towards the bottom of the league in most of the statistical categories this season. They are ninth in scoring offense at 58ppg and eighth in field goal percentage at 36.3%; they are fifth in free throw percentage at 66.7 percent. The team is 10th in scoring defense at 71.9 points allowed per contest; they sit eighth in defensive field goal percentage at 39.9 percent. The 'Dogs are pulling down 35.3 rebounds a night, ninth in the league, and have a negative rebounding margin of 8.0. Turnovers have been an issue for Mac all season but it is improving; they average 20.93 a game but have been under that mark for three of their past four outings. The squad also nets 12.0 assists, 5.6 steals and a KCAC-high 4.2 blocks a game.
Through the team's 14 conference games, Bailey Brown is leading the scoring for MC with her 17.4 average; she has made a remarkable 92 free throws, topping the KCAC, and also averages 5.7 rebounds a night. Sunny Smart is the three-point shooter for the 'Dogs as she has made 34 and drops in 30.1% from range; the junior leads the team in rebounding average at 6.1.
MC in the KCAC: Brown is second in the league in scoring with her 244 points; she is fifth in field goal percentage at 45.2%. S. Smart is atop the conference in three-point field goals made per game at 2.43 and is also ninth in rebounding average; the 'Dogs have four athletes in the top-15 in rebounding. Alicia Demaret has blocked 26 shots in the KCAC season and her average of 1.86 leads the league. Whitney Jefferson is second in the conference in assists per game at 3.21.
McPherson's final road game of the year will come on February 14th as they travel to Winfield, Kansas to square off with the nationally ranked Southwestern College Moundbuilders; tipoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
Scouting Ottawa
The Lady Braves are 12-12 on the year and 8-6 in the KCAC. The team has lost three of their last four, including a major upset at Bethany College, and will head into Thursday's game following a two-point loss to Saint Mary this past weekend.
The Spires took advantage of some good shooting on their end and a poor shooting first half by OU to take an eight-point advantage into the break. USM held the lead most of the second period and held off a late surge by Ottawa for the 56-54 triumph. The Braves made 35.7% of their field goals, 20-of-56, but saw a mere 3-of-16 three balls fall; they went 11-of-17 from the foul line. The Spires struggled shooting in the second and ended the night making just 32.1% from the floor, 18-of-56; they were 7-of-26 from deep and 13-of-19 from the charity stripe.
Statistics are from KCAC games only.
The Braves are in the middle of the KCAC pack both record-wise and in statistics. They are scoring 63.6 points a night, sixth best, while making 40% from the field, fifth; the team is second in free throw percentage at 76.5 percent and rank second in the NAIA in that category. The team is fourth in the conference in scoring defense at 62.0 points allowed a game but are 7th in defensive field goal percentage at 39.5 percent. The Braves are eighth in rebounding average at 35.4 boards a game; their -0.4 rebounding margin is fifth in the KCAC. They are seventh in assists a game, 11.9, eighth in steals, 6.4, and fourth in blocks, 3.1.
Ashley Romig has been the team's leading scorer all season; she is averaging 15.9 points a night and also has grabbed a team-high 115 boards. Mikayla Skidmore sits second for the Braves with her 13.7ppg; she has played in a team-high 466 minutes, 33.3 a night. Madi Stewart is also over the double-digit hump each game as she nets 13.6 points; the sophomore has made a team-high 25 three balls and drops in over 33% from range.
OU vs the KCAC: Romig is third in scoring this season with 223 points and sits second in field goal percentage at 54.5%; her rebounding average is good enough for fifth and she is third in blocks with 21. Stewart is leading the conference in free throw percentage at 91.7 percent. Skidmore tops the KCAC in assists with an eye-popping 72, 5.14 a game; the senior is also recording four turnovers a night which is the highest in the conference.
Ottawa will hit the road for their next contest as they travel to Bethel College on February 14th.
