Bulldogs Fall to #9 Sterling Warriors

Photo by Jakob Komel

McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women's basketball team fell at home on Saturday afternoon to the 9^th ranked Sterling College Warriors 91-77.

The first half was dead even with both teams scoring 26 points in the first quarter, then adding 21 more in the second to go into the locker room at halftime all square at 47 apiece.

The difference really came in the first minute and a half of the third quarter. The Warriors came out of the locker room and hit back to back to back three pointers to take a nine point lead. It was a deficit that the Bulldogs could not recover from for the rest of the game. The Warriors outscored the Bulldogs in the third quarter 27-19 to lead by 8 heading into the final ten minutes of play.

In the final period the Bulldogs were forced to take a lot of three pointers to try and get back within striking distance of the Warriors. Unfortunately too few of those attempts from distance found their way through the basket. The Warriors were able to push their lead out to double digits, and when the clock hit zeros the Bulldogs found themselves down 14.

Key Statistic

For the second game in a row, the Bulldogs hit more than 50% of their attempts from beyond the arc in the first half. They went 10-19 in periods one and two, but cooled down considerably in quarters three and four, making just 3 of 17.

By the Numbers

The Bulldogs finished the game making 28 of 75 shots from the floor for 37%.

From the free throw line they were 8 of 16 (50%).

Four Bulldogs scored in double figures, led by Brittany Roberts who finished with 15 points and 19 rebounds, and TiJanae' Simmons who had a season high 15 points.

MC lost the turnover battle 17-12, but out-rebounded the Warriors 45-44.

Bulldog Leaders

Points: Brittany Roberts, TiJanae' Simmons (15)

Rebounds: Brittany Roberts (19)      

Assists: Dy'mond McElrath (10)

Steals: Brittany Roberts (4)

Blocks: Brittany Roberts (2)                                                            

Coaches Quote:

"Really proud of our team tonight, they played a good game. Sterling just shot the ball a bit better than we did. Overall we shot the three as well as we have all year long and that kept us in it. We broke down a few times defensively and Sterling took advantage of those mistakes. We play that way the rest of the season, we will be tough to beat." – Coach Nichols

Next Up

The loss drops the Bulldogs to 9-8 overall, and 6-5 in the KCAC. It doesn't get any easier for the Bulldogs as they will host Tabor College, who is tied for second in the conference standings at the moment, on Monday evening. Tipoff is slated for 6:00 pm at the Sport Center.