NORTH NEWTON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) ---
Brooklyn Coe (Corvallis, Ore., Chemeketa CC) scored a game-high 14 points, including the first four points of overtime, as the McPherson College women's basketball team held off host Bethel College, 45-43, in overtime Thursday evening at Thresher Gymnasium.
Bethel (1-6, 0-4 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) led 7-6 after one quarter as each team struggled to 2-of-10 shooting from the field with a pair of free throws – the difference coming on a Kylee Schunn 3-pointer.
The Threshers struck first in the second quarter, extending the lead to three on a layup by Brittany Carter, but the Bulldogs (7-2, 3-1 KCAC) countered with a 9-0 run to grab a 15-9 with 3:19 to play in the half. Bethel cut the deficit to one with five straight points before
Brooke Racette (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) drained a three with five seconds to play to give McPherson an 18-14 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs shot better in the second quarter, hitting five of seven shots from the field, while the Threshers struggled further, hitting on just two of 15 opportunities to finish the half just 4-of-25 overall.
Fantasia Johnson hit a pair of free throws to open the second half and Elise Gerlach tied the game at 18 with a layup with 7:34 left in the quarter, but McPherson took the lead right back on its next trip down the floor as Coe converted a traditional 3-point play. The Bulldogs held the lead for over six minutes before Johnson forced a
Maressah Milum (Douglas, Kan., Independence CC) turnover and converted on the fastbreak to give the Threshers a 29-28 lead. Milum redeemed herself the next time down the court to put McPherson ahead 30-29 headed to the fourth quarter.
After trading baskets to open the fourth quarter, Bethel went on a 6-0 run to lead by four with 4:38 remaining in regulation. Baskets by
Brooke Zimmerman (Aurora, Colo., Western Nebraska CC) and Racette drew the Bulldogs even at 37 with 1:40 left, but neither team could convert on its opportunities down the stretch. The teams combined for three missed shots and Bethel missed on all four of its chances at the charity stripe as the game went to overtime.
Coe scored on back-to-back trips down the court to open the extra session, giving McPherson a lead it would not relinquish. A jumper by Karlie Schroeder with 19 seconds to play drew Bethel to within one at 44-43.
Cami Richardson (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) hit one of two free throws to put the Bulldogs back up by two, opening the door for the Threshers, who saw shots by Schroeder and Gerlach fail to connect. Zimmerman rebounded the Gerlach miss and was immediately fouled but missed a pair of free throws that would have iced the game. Given one last opportunity, Bethel was unable to convert as a 3-pointer by Schunn at the buzzer missed the mark.
The Bulldogs rebounded from their early struggles from the field to finish at 39.5 percent (17-of-43) overall. They did, however, struggle mightily from both long distance and at the line. McPherson hit only two of 12 3-pointers – both from Racette – and was just 9-of-30 at the charity stripe. The team won the battle on the boards, 38-33, but committed 33 turnovers to the Threshers' 22.
Bethel shot just 24.6 percent (14-of-57) from the field overall and connected on just three of 16 3-pointers.
Coe led all players with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting and had five rebounds. She also had seven turnovers. Racette added eight points and seven rebounds, while Richardson added three points, two rebounds and team-highs with five assists, two blocks and two steals. Zimmerman hauled in a team-high eight rebounds.
The Threshers were led by Schroeder, who scored 13 points off the bench. Johnson added eight points and game-highs with nine rebounds and four steals. Gerlach finished with seven points, one board and three steals.
Winners of six of their last seven, the Bulldogs return to the Sport Center to face Sterling College (6-2, 2-2 KCAC) at 5 p.m. Saturday evening.
