Cathy Wade probably wishes she could play every game against McPherson College.
Bethany College’s 5-10 junior, who averages 11.9 points a game, had her second big effort of the season against the Bulldogs here Thursday as her 18 points and 13 rebounds led the Swedes to a 75-62 victory.
Wade had arguably her best game of the year in the first meeting between the teams when she scored 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 9 of 9 at the line. Thus for the year she’s averaging 22.5 against the Bulldogs, twice her average.
“Cathy’s had two great games against them,” said Bethany coach Jim Campion, whose team is now 5-8 in the KCAC and 8-15 overall as it continues to work its way out of the play-in round which is for teams 7-10 in the standings. “She really played well.”
The Swedes jumped out to a 38-23 halftime lead, but Mac’s Brooke Weisenburger led a Bulldog charge that saw them slice the deficit to four, 54-50, with nine minutes to go. But from there, the Swedes regrouped and closed the game out strong.
“We had a great first half,” Campion said. “We did some really good things defensively. We got out on their shooters and I was pleased with our offense, too. In the second half, we knew they were going to fight because that’s the type of team they are. They’ve got some good kids who work hard and don’t quit.”
The Swedes’ Rhys Pihl scored a team-leading 22 points, while Clarie Cole added 10 points, as did Amber Dunham, who came off the bench to provide the Swedes with a spark.
“Amber had a really super game. She did some good things, scoring and rebounding,” Campion said.
Bethany had a 49-44 advantage off the glass.
For Mac coach Shelly Prescott, it was a disappointing night as her team was hoping to build on last Saturday’s impressive win over Tabor. Mac dropped to 2-11 in the KCAC and 5-16 overall as it appears headed for the play-in round.
“Our paint game was horrible in the first half and that’s what we’re good at,” Prescott said. “We scored only 10 points in the paint. We just didn’t play our game offensively in the first half.”
But Prescott was proud that her team didn’t fold when it got down as many as 16, 41-25.
“They don’t ever give up,” she said. “Unfortunately we dug ourselves a deep hole and had a hard time getting out. They fight, fight and fight and try to play with no excuses.”
Weisenburger scored 15 of her 19 in the second half. The Swedes did a solid job defensively on top Mac scorer Kristen Ozbun, who was held to six points on 3-of-13 shooting. Mac as a team was just 25 of 73.
The Bulldogs now go on the road Saturday to play Southwestern, while Bethany is at Ottawa.
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Cathy Wade probably wishes she could play every game against McPherson College.
Bethany College’s 5-10 junior, who averages 11.9 points a game, had her second big effort of the season against the Bulldogs here Thursday as her 18 points and 13 rebounds led the Swedes to a 75-62 victory.
Wade had arguably her best game of the year in the first meeting between the teams when she scored 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 9 of 9 at the line. Thus for the year she’s averaging 22.5 against the Bulldogs, twice her average.
“Cathy’s had two great games against them,” said Bethany coach Jim Campion, whose team is now 5-8 in the KCAC and 8-15 overall as it continues to work its way out of the play-in round which is for teams 7-10 in the standings. “She really played well.”
The Swedes jumped out to a 38-23 halftime lead, but Mac’s Brooke Weisenburger led a Bulldog charge that saw them slice the deficit to four, 54-50, with nine minutes to go. But from there, the Swedes regrouped and closed the game out strong.
“We had a great first half,” Campion said. “We did some really good things defensively. We got out on their shooters and I was pleased with our offense, too. In the second half, we knew they were going to fight because that’s the type of team they are. They’ve got some good kids who work hard and don’t quit.”
The Swedes’ Rhys Pihl scored a team-leading 22 points, while Clarie Cole added 10 points, as did Amber Dunham, who came off the bench to provide the Swedes with a spark.
“Amber had a really super game. She did some good things, scoring and rebounding,” Campion said.
Bethany had a 49-44 advantage off the glass.
For Mac coach Shelly Prescott, it was a disappointing night as her team was hoping to build on last Saturday’s impressive win over Tabor. Mac dropped to 2-11 in the KCAC and 5-16 overall as it appears headed for the play-in round.
“Our paint game was horrible in the first half and that’s what we’re good at,” Prescott said. “We scored only 10 points in the paint. We just didn’t play our game offensively in the first half.”
But Prescott was proud that her team didn’t fold when it got down as many as 16, 41-25.
“They don’t ever give up,” she said. “Unfortunately we dug ourselves a deep hole and had a hard time getting out. They fight, fight and fight and try to play with no excuses.”
Weisenburger scored 15 of her 19 in the second half. The Swedes did a solid job defensively on top Mac scorer Kristen Ozbun, who was held to six points on 3-of-13 shooting. Mac as a team was just 25 of 73.
The Bulldogs now go on the road Saturday to play Southwestern, while Bethany is at Ottawa.
