McPherson, Kan. – In front of a packed house on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs hosted cross-town rival Central Christian College for another matchup in the Collegiate Cup. Both teams headed into the contest looking to remain undefeated after going 2-0 at the McPherson Classic.
The Basics
Location: Holman Fieldhouse
Score: MC 67, CCC 59
Records: MC 4-0 (KCAC 0-0), CCC 2-1 (SAC 0-0)
How it Happened
Isabella Rosa opened the game with a layup to put the Bulldogs on the board first, but the Tigers quickly answered as Cristina Laudan sank both of her free throws to even the score. The teams traded baskets through the opening minutes before
Dana Imankulova connected from deep to give McPherson a five-point advantage.
Olivia Bell capped off the quarter with a jumper in the final seconds, sending the Bulldogs into the second period with a 20-18 advantage.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter as McPherson struggled offensively, managing just seven points and shooting 10% (1/10). The Tigers capitalized on the cold stretch, putting up 16 points in the period, including a pair of three-pointers from Charmayne Marshall, to take a 37-34 lead into the halftime break.
Central came out strong after halftime, extending their lead to 10 behind two more threes from Marshall. McPherson responded with a nine-point surge, fueled by five points from Bell trimming the deficit to just one. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, but the Tigers managed to edge ahead 52-49 heading into the final quarter.
The Tigers pushed their advantage to six early in the fourth, but the Bulldogs locked in defensively, holding Central to just two made field goals – one from behind the arc – throughout the period. McPherson shot 28% in the frame (5/18), but crucial plays down the stretch proved to be the difference. A layup by
Isabella Rosa gave the Bulldogs control late, and Bell made three of four at the line in the final 30 seconds to secure the win. Bell finished with an impressive double-double performance, posting 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead McPherson to victory with the final score standing at 67-59.
Up Next
McPherson will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday for an afternoon matchup with Nebraska Wesleyan University. Tipoff is slated for 2:00 PM.
