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McPherson, Kan. – Following their first loss of 2016, the McPherson College women's basketball team will try and get back to their winning ways on Saturday, January 16 as they host Southwestern College for a 3:00 p.m. (CT) tipoff in the Sport Center.
Scouting McPherson
The Lady 'Dogs are 7-13 this season and 4-6 in the KCAC, tying them for sixth in the conference after one round of play. The team has won three of their last four league outings but lost on Thursday to the University of Saint Mary 65-56 in Leavenworth.
Last Time Out
McPherson had a rough first quarter against the Spires as they scored just seven points to Saint Mary's 17. The second period belonged to Mac as they used the art of the three-point basket to climb back in and take the lead. USM jumped back in front late and headed into the locker room up 29-28. The third quarter was very close and Saint Mary took a one-point lead into the final period. The shooting woes came back for the Bulldogs in the fourth as they scored just 13 points leading to a 65-56 loss. MC shot 32.2% for the game, 19-of-59, and made 8-of-28 from deep; the team counted just 10-of-18 from the stripe. The Lady 'Dogs tallied 37 rebounds along with 15 turnovers, nine assists, and three steals.
Georgia Smart led the team in scoring with her 15 points on 5-of-12 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the stripe; she made both of her three-point attempts, the first of the season for the forward. Both Bailey Brown and Ashton Bruner scored 11 for the Bulldogs; Brown went 4-of-12 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the line while Bruner made 3-of-10 field goals and 4-of-6 free throws. Amanda Allen scored on 3-of-5 three pointers for her nine points.
STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – This conference season the Bulldogs are scoring 63.3 points a night, sixth in the league, but allow 68.1. They make 37% from the floor and a KCAC second-worst 26.2% from behind the arc; their 67.6 free throw percentage is eighth in the conference. The Bulldogs rank second in rebounding and rebounding margin at 41.6 and 5.5, respectively. The team also tallies 9.2 assists, 7.4 steals, and 2.9 blocks a game.
Brown has scored 158 conference points for a 15.8 average; she is the top free throw shooter for Mac, making 83.1% from the line, 69-of-83. Bruner nets 14.7 points a game and leads the 'Dogs in rebounds with 8.4 each time out; the forward is second is assists with 18. G Smart is scoring 9.6 points a night and also has a 5.0 rebounding average. Sunny Smart has made a team-high 16 three-point buckets in her 10 KCAC games.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings – McPherson as a team is 17th in total rebounds this season with 800 and are 18th in total blocks with 69. Brown sits 11th in free throw percentage at 84.5%. Bruner is 22nd in total rebounds with 165.
Mac will play host to Bethel College next Wednesday with JV tipping off at 2:00 p.m. (CT) and varsity set for 6:00.
Scouting Southwestern
Under first-year interim head coach Whitney Corley, the Lady Moundbuilders have gone 6-14 overall and 4-6 in the KCAC. Close games have been a common occurrence for Southwestern as five of their 10 conference games have been within a couple points including the first time they played Mac which ended in a 59-58 Bulldog win. Their most recent outing was also a tight contest as they lost to Oklahoma Wesleyan, coached by a SWC alumnus, 98-96 this past Thursday.
Last Time Out – Southwestern jumped out to a quick lead but a run by the Eagles tied things up late in the first and the teams headed into the second quarter tied at 20-20. Oklahoma Wesleyan controlled the rest of the half and went into the locker room up 48-42. Coming out of the break, SWC quickly tied things up but a run by the Lady Eagles pushed their lead back to seven points. Southwestern again came back and were out in front heading into the fourth, 76-75. The Moundbuilders kept their lead for the first several minutes of the final period but an 11-2 run by OKWU put them up six with four to play. SWC tried to climb back in but could not as they eventually fell 98-96. Southwestern went 38-of-71 for the game, 53.5%, and netted 12-of-21 three-point buckets; they saw 8-of-11 free throws find the bottom of the net. The team grabbed 44 rebounds with 17 on the offensive end of the court; they also had 24 turnovers, 19 assists, six blocks, and three steals.
Kayla Demel led the game in scoring with an unheard of 8-of-10 night from the three-point line for 24 points. Jordyn Miller was a close second with 23 points on 10-of-18 field goals and 2-of-2 free throws; the forward also had 10 rebounds in the game. Jana Reichenberger tied Miller in rebounds with 10 including six offensive boards; she scored 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting and 2-of-3 foul shots. Taylor Bleumer entered from the bench to score her 10 points on 4-of-6 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the line.
STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – Despite their high-scoring game on Thursday, Southwestern is putting in just 63 points a night while allowing 67.5, both are seventh in the league. The team drops in 38.9% from the floor with 29.7% falling from range; they also make 69.6% from the charity stripe. The team pulls in 43.6 rebounds a game and have an 11.5 rebounding margin, both are top in the KCAC. SWC tallies 11.9 assists, 5.3 steals, and 3.8 blocks each time they hit the court.
Reichenberger is scoring 13.3 points a night while pulling in 9.3 rebounds; she is the leading free throw shooter at 35-of-49, 71.4%. Bleumer, who hasn't started a single conference game, averages 11.3 points and 6.3 rebounds. Miller is also over the 10-point hump in her KCAC games at 11.1. Demel is the only Southwestern player to have made more than 10 three pointers in conference contests, netting 21-of-49.
The Moundbuilders will have a two-game home stand next week as they host Sterling College on the 20th and then Saint Mary that Saturday.
