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McPherson, Kan. – Much like they did a couple weeks ago, the McPherson College women's basketball team will be seeking revenge for a buzzer beating loss earlier in the season. Back in December, Friends University hit a layup in the closing seconds to defeat Mac in the Sport Center. On January 30th the Lady 'Dogs will look to rectify that loss as they travel to Wichita, Kansas for a 5:00 p.m. (CT) tip with the Falcons.
Scouting McPherson
The Bulldogs have had a strong second half of the season, going 7-4 in their last 11 games; they are 10-14 overall and 7-7 in the KCAC. After winning three-straight conference contests, Mac was stopped short by Kansas Wesleyan University in double overtime on Wednesday, 55-51.
Last Time Out – It was a tight first quarter as the teams traded buckets and the score sat at 16-13 in favor of KWU. McPherson controlled the second period and led 29-22 heading into the locker room. In the third, Kansas Wesleyan had the necessary runs to push them into the lead which they maintained, heading into the fourth up 39-38. The Bulldogs made a strong push in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime. In the first OT, Mac had a chance to take the game late but a missed bucket forced a second. The Coyotes jumped out in front early and hung on late to take the game 55-51 after 50 minutes. McPherson scored on 23-of-61 for the game with 4-of-13 coming from behind the arc; they converted 15-of-18 from the stripe.
Ashton Bruner led both teams in scoring with her career-high 24 points on 9-of-21 field goals and 6-of-9 free throws; the forward also tallied 11 rebounds, two assists, one steal and one block. Bailey Brown went 6-of-14 from the floor and put all eight of her free throws through the net; she had six defensive rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot. Amanda Allen was 3-of-9 from behind the arc for her nine points; the freshman blocked away three shots for MC.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – Mac is scoring 63.5 points a game while allowing 66.1, fifth best in the league. The team makes 38% from the floor with 28.2% falling in from behind the arc; they are making 67.7% from the charity stripe. MC is fourth in rebounding in the KCAC with a 40.6 average; their rebounding margin of 4.4 is third. The team logs 9.3 assists, 7.6 steals, and 3.1 blocks each time out.
With her career night on Wednesday, Bruner is now the season leader in scoring with her 15.9ppg; she also leads the way in rebounding with a 9.3 average. Brown is a close second at 15.6 and tops the team in free throws, making 90-of-108 through the 14 KCAC games. Georgia Smart scores 8.0 points a night while grabbing 4.3 boards; she is third on the team in blocks with 10.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings – As a team, McPherson is 18th in total rebounds in the NAIA with 952 on the year; they are 20th in total blocks with 84. Brown ranks 11th in free throw percentage at 84.4%; she is 21st in total steals with her 50. Bruner sits 13th with her 211 total rebounds and is 21st in defensive boards a night with 6.65.
It's a home week for MC next week as they host Bethany College on February 4th and then Tabor College on the 6th. Both dates are slated to have JV and varsity contests; Bethany's games are at 2:00 and 6:00 while Tabor's are set for 1:00 and 5:00.
Scouting Friends
After starting the season rough, going 3-4 in the preseason non-conference, Friends has picked it up and hold a 15-8 overall record and are 9-4 in the KCAC. The Falcons moved down to the No. 3 spot in the league after a 102-97 loss at now No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan University this past Wednesday.
Last Time Out – It was a barn burner from the start as both teams scored over 20 points in all but one quarter. OKWU stormed out to a 12-2 lead and stayed in front the rest of the way; Friends made it close in the closing minutes of the period, putting the first quarter score at 25-21. The Eagles held a lead throughout the second but never by more than eight; FU pulled in close late and were within one by the break, 43-42. Oklahoma Wesleyan again kept a slim lead in the third but unlike the last two period, it was the Eagles who had the push late, going on a mini-run to put the score at 81-67 with 10 minutes to play. OKWU looked to be in complete control in the early goings of the fourth but a 7-0 run by the Falcons tightened the gap. The Eagles hit just enough free throws in the closing minutes to hang on for the five-point win over the NAIA's 25th ranked team. Friends took 94 shot attempts in the game, they made 40 for a 42.5 shooting percentage; the team went 8-of-30 from deep and just 9-of-21 from the stripe, 40.9%. The Falcons tallied an impressive 54 rebounds with 21 coming off the offensive glass; they tabbed 24 turnovers, 19 assists, 13 steals, and three blocks.
Shan Sellers entered the game from the bench for the first time this season and scored a game-high 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting from the field but was just 2-of-8 from the foul line; the forward had seven rebounds along with four steals, two assists, and a block. Erika Torres was 6-of-11 from behind the arc for 18 points. No other Friends player made it into double digits scoring.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – The Lady Falcons are second in the conference in scoring offense with 73.9 points a night and allow 68.2; they are second in scoring margin as well, a positive 5.7. The team makes 39.5% from the floor but just 26% from deep; they are last in the KCAC in free throw percentage at 57.5%. The team pulls down 37.7 boards a game and are 10th in rebounding margin at -4.9; Friends also tallies 11.8 steals, 13.5 assists, and 1.2 blocks; they lead the conference in steals and are second in assists.
Sellers is scoring a solid 21.5 points in her 13 KCAC games; she also tallies 10 rebounds and has made a team-high 50 free throws, though she's only shooting in 51% from the stripe. Kaylea Britton, who transferred in at semester, is scoring 12.3 points through the four conference games she's been a part of. Asia Booker and Ericka Torres both sit in the eight-point range in terms of scoring; Torres is the top three-point shooter for FU, making 29-of-95.
Friends will be at Sterling College for their next competition which is set for February 4th.
