BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College women's basketball team scored just eight points in the third quarter allowing (RV) Oklahoma Wesleyan University to turn a one-point halftime lead into a 13-point lead headed to the fourth quarter as the Eagles posted a 76-64 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) win Saturday afternoon at Mueller Sports Center.
After a slow start offensively for both teams, the Bulldogs (10-9, 6-6 KCAC) struck first on a basket by
Cami Richardson (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) nearly 2:30 into the game. Dania Goodwin responded with a 3-pointer on the Eagles' next trip down the court, kicking off a 16-3 run over the next 3:22 for Oklahoma Wesleyan (15-5, 9-3 KCAC). McPherson rallied, though, scoring 12 of the final 16 points of the quarter, including the final seven, to cut the deficit to just three points headed to the second quarter.
Danielle Holt (Glenpool, Okla., Glenpool HS) drained a 3-pointer to open the second quarter to knot the score at 20-20 with 8:49 left in the half. The Bulldogs took the lead on a
Brooke Zimmerman (Aurora, Colo., Western Nebraska CC) basket seconds later, eventually pushing the lead to four points. McPherson led by four after a Richardson 3-pointer at the 2:13 mark but was not able to hold on to the lead down the stretch. Oklahoma Wesleyan used a 9-2 run to take a three-point lead in the final seconds of the half.
Sonerka White (Houston, Texas, Eisenhower HS) drained a pair of free throws to leave the Bulldogs trailing by just one headed to the break.
McPherson came out cold to start the second half as Oklahoma Wesleyan scored the first 11 points of the third quarter. The Bulldogs first points came on a basket by
Brittany Roberts (Mansfield, Texas, Lake Ridge HS) at the 4:46 mark. McPherson went 0-of-6 from the field and missed four free throws before Roberts was able to connect. The Eagles built the lead to 15 points with 2:09 remaining in the quarter. The Bulldogs rallied for four straight points to make it an 11-point game, but a late basket by Sarah Hajdukovich gave Oklahoma Wesleyan a 60-47 lead to start the fourth quarter. McPherson was held to just eight points on 3-of-16 shooting in the frame. OKWU was 9-of-17 from the field.
The Bulldogs were able to cut the lead to 10 points at the midway point of the final quarter on a 3-pointer by White but could not get the lead back to single digits.
McPherson struggled from the field, hitting just 38.3 percent (23-of-60) overall with nine 3-pointers. The Bulldogs' struggles also translated to the free throw line where they were just 9-of-21 (42.9 percent). Oklahoma Wesleyan hit 54.5 percent (30-of-55) from the field overall and drained eight of 13 3-pointers. The Eagles also went 8-of-9 at the charity stripe.
OKWU also held a 38-25 advantage on the boards.
White scored a team-high 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting and three 3-pointers off the bench. She also had three assists. Richardson added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Roberts had nine points,
Brooke Racette (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) finished with eight and Holt had seven points, five boards, three assists, a block and a steal.
Tiffany Rieger led all players with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead four OKWU players in double figures. Goodwin added 14 points and Mary Hutchins had 10. Sarah Short had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
After taking two of their three longest KCAC road trips in the past week, the Bulldogs return home for four of their next five contests, beginning with home games Wednesday against Bethany College and next Saturday against No. 16 Tabor College.
