SALINA, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- Five different McPherson College women's basketball players scored in double figures and the Bulldogs hit a school-record 14 3-pointers but Kansas Wesleyan University escaped with a 90-88 overtime victory in Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) play Wednesday night at Mabee Arena.
The Bulldogs (9-7, 5-4 KCAC) trailed by eight points (76-68) midway through the fourth quarter but rallied to cut the lead to just one with 2:44 left in regulation on a
Cami Richardson (Hesston, Kan., Hesston HS) 3-pointer. The Coyotes (9-8, 6-3 KCAC) countered with back-to-back baskets to return the advantage to five points at 81-76 with just 1:31 remaining. McPherson would not back down, however.
Brooke Racette (Hutchinson, Kan., Trinity Catholic HS) drained a 3-pointer, then, after a defensive stop,
Brooklyn Coe (Corvallis, Ore., Chemeketa CC) was fouled with 1.5 seconds on the clock. Coe stepped up to the free throw line and promptly converted both chances. A last second 3-pointer by KWU's Sydney Mortensen fell short to send the game to overtime.
Coe scored McPherson's first five points of the extra frame, giving the Bulldogs an 86-85 lead with a 3-pointer as the clock ticked under the 3:00 mark. Mortensen countered with a triple of her own to put Kansas Wesleyan back in front with 2:16 to play.
Following a Richardson miss on the other end, the Coyotes came up empty on three straight opportunities before the Bulldogs were able to corral the rebound. Racette was fouled on a layup attempt on the ensuing McPherson possession, but made just one of two free throws to leave the Bulldogs down by a point with 46.3 seconds to play.
Kansas Wesleyan bled the clock with its next possession. Fouled with 18 seconds on the clock after pulling down a Maddie Miller miss, Gabbie Miller came up empty on a pair of free throws. A turnover on McPherson's next chance was followed by another Bulldog foul. This time, Hannah Bradford made good on both opportunities to make it a 3-point game with just six seconds to play.
Emma Van Donselaar (Shawnee, Kan., Shawnee Mission West HS) drove to the basket and drew a foul in the final seconds. Injured on the play, Van Donselaar was replaced by
Julie Olvera (Bakersfield, Calif., Bakersfield College) to take the free throws. Olvera made the first but missed the second and the Bulldogs were unable to get the tip-in as time expired.
Tied at 21 after one quarter, Kansas Wesleyan outscored McPherson, 25-18, in the second to take a 7-point halftime lead. The Coyotes maintained the lead in the third quarter before the Bulldogs made their run in the final frame.
McPherson shot just 38.2 percent from the field overall but hit nearly half of its shots (14-of-32) from behind the arc. The 14 triples broke the record of 13 set last season at Oklahoma Wesleyan and tied earlier this year against Central Christian. The Bulldogs did struggle from the line however, converting at only a 62.9 percent (22-of-35) clip.
Coe scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting to lead five Bulldogs in double figures. She also had a game-high three steals. Richardson added 16 points and three assists, while Racette had 15 points off the bench. Coe, Richardson and Racette each drained four 3-pointers.
Brittany Roberts (Mansfield, Texas, Lake Ridge HS) had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double and Van Donselaar had 11 points, eight rebounds and a pair of assists. Both posted career-high rebounding totals in their first career starts.
Kansas Wesleyan shot nearly 50 percent (30-of-62) overall with six 3-pointers. The Coyotes also drained 24 of 33 free-throw opportunities. While the Bulldogs were busy from outside, KWU rank up a 42-20 advantage in points in the paint.
Reserves Courtney Heinen (20) and Virja Lewis (15) led the scoring attack for Kansas Wesleyan, who outscored McPherson, 51-26, off the bench. Mortensen added 10 points, while Gabbie Miller had eight points, seven rebounds and five assists. Lewis matched Miller with seven rebounds, while Maddie Miller added nine points and eight boards.
The Bulldogs return to the Sport Center Saturday afternoon when they host Bethel College in another KCAC tilt. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. The Threshers (5-12, 1-8 KCAC) picked up their first league win of the season Wednesday night with a 69-50 win over York College in North Newton.
