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McPherson, Kan. – On February 6th, the McPherson College women's basketball team will take on NAIA No. 14 Tabor College in the Sport Center; tipoff for the junior varsity contest is set for 1:00 p.m. (CT) with the varsity game scheduled for 5:00. Following the game, McPherson College will reveal the winning design of the 'Design the Bulldog' contest. All Bulldog fans in attendance will get a free t-shirt showcasing the new Bulldog logo.
Scouting McPherson
MC is 11-15 on the year and 8-8 in the KCAC; they currently sit fifth in the league. After losing two games last week, the Bulldogs rebounded with a 54-39 drumming of Bethany College on Thursday.
Last Time Out – It was a very slow and low-scoring first quarter as the two teams struggled shooting the ball; Mac made just 2-of-16 from the floor and trailed 16-4 heading into the second. The 'Dogs figured out the BC zone and put 16 points on the board in the period; a strong run in the closing minutes put McPherson ahead 20-18 at the break. MC kept on rolling in the third, doubling the Swede total in the quarter and taking a 34-25 lead into the fourth. Bethany had one opportunity to creep back into the game in the early goings of the final period but the Bulldog defense stood firm and the offense scored a game-high 20 points in the quarter, giving Mac the 54-39 win. The team tallied 45 rebounds with 14 being offensive boards; they also had 11 turnovers, just five in the second half, nine assists, five blocks, and four steals.
Bailey Brown made 4-of-12 field goals and 10-of-10 free throws to score a game-high 20 points; she also had nine rebounds in her team leading 38+ minutes of action. Ashton Bruner scored 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting with 4-of-4 free throws; she recorded nine rebounds. Brooke Racette scored six points and had seven rebounds in her first game as a starter this season.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – MC is putting 62.8 points on the board each game and are second in the conference in scoring defense as they allow just 64.8ppg. The squad is knocking in 37.1% from the field with 27% falling in from deep; they convert on 69.1% of their free throws. The Bulldogs tally 41.1 rebounds each game which is third in the league, as is their 4.3 rebounding margin; the team logs 8.9 assists, 7.4 steals, and 3.1 blocks each contest as well.
Brown is scoring 16.1 points each time out to lead the team; she has cashed in on 15 threes, second on the team, and 110-of-132 free throws. Bruner is a very close second in scoring at 15.9 points per game; she is the team leader in rebounds 9.0 a night. Georgia Smart is tallying 7.8 points each contest and 4.4 rebounds. Freshmen Kristina Battle and Amanda Allen both average 5.3ppg.
Bulldogs in the National Rankings – As a team, McPherson is 14th in total rebounds with 1041 and rank 23rd in total blocks with 90. Bruner is 13th in the NAIA D-II with her 225 total rebounds and 20th in defensive boards a night at 6.6. Brown sits 14th in free throw percentage at 84.3%.
It's a one-game week for McPherson next week as they travel to Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Thursday night for a 6:00 p.m. contest with the Eagles.
Scouting Tabor
The Bluejays are a perfect 15-0 in the KCAC and hold a 19-6 overall record with their last loss coming back in early December; the team is currently on a 14-game winning streak. This past Thursday, TC took down Oklahoma Wesleyan University on the road, 111-82.
Last Time Out – It was a close first period between Tabor and OKWU but a late run by the 'Jays put them in front 29-23 after one. TC pushed their lead to double-digits but never more than 12 as the Eagles traded buckets for most of the quarter; the visiting Bluejays went into the locker room ahead 50-40. Tabor maintained their double figure advantage throughout the second half with it peaking at 25 in the third quarter and then 31 in the fourth; their lead was never in doubt and they coasted to the 29-point victory. TC netted 44-of-72 from the floor, 61.1%, with the majority of their total coming in the paint, 68 points; the team was 5-of-13 from behind the arc and made 18-of-27 free throws. The Bluejays recorded 30 turnovers but had 21 assists, 17 steals, and six blocks.
Jurnee Reid scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-21 shooting with all four of her free throws dropping; she led the team in blocks with three. Tena Loewen and Samantha Short each scored 13 points; the forwards combined for eight rebounds and seven assists. Loewen, a dual-sport athlete with volleyball, was a perfect 6-of-6 from the floor and went 1-of-3 from the line while Short netted 5-of-6 field goals and 3-of-5 foul shots. Taylor Hurd went 4-of-8 from the field with a pair of threes along with a 2-of-7 showing from the stripe for her 12 points. Nicole Decker scored 10 for TC on 5-of-7 field goals.
ALL STATISTICS ARE FROM KCAC GAMES ONLY
Year at a Glance – The Lady Bluejays are third in the lead in scoring with 71.5ppg and rank first in scoring defense at 52.9; they are also first in scoring margin with their positive 18.6. The team is the conference leading shooting team as they bucket 43% from the floor with 36.6% of their three-point tries finding the bottom of the net; they rank fourth in free throw percentage at 71.2%. TC tallies 40.9 rebounds a game along with 11.9 assists, 10.2 steals, and 2.2 blocks; they are fourth in the KCAC in rebounding and second in steals.
Tabor doesn't rely on one or two players to score 15+ a night as they have seven players that are scoring over six points per game. Reid leads the way with her 8.6 average; she has made a team-high 48 field goals and also tallies 6.2 boards per game. Loewen is the leading rebounder with her 6.7 average to go along with her 7.8ppg; she has converted on a team leading 43-of-63 free throws. Kayla Wilgers is the top three-point shooter, draining 26-of-53; she totals 6.7 points per contest.
The Lady 'Jays will host Sterling College next Thursday.
