Women drop fourth straight with 65-60 loss to McPherson
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Ascendra Peters goes up for a shot during the first half of KWU's 65-60 loss to McPherson on Saturday

Despite jumping out to a early 9-3 lead, Kansas Wesleyan could not hold on, as the Lady Coyotes lost 65-60 to McPherson on Saturday at Muir Gym.

It was the fourth straight loss for the Coyotes, who have opened the spring semester with four straight losses in KCAC play.

Wesleyan (5-13, 1-7) led until the 10:49 mark of the first half, when Jamie Simms converted an offensive rebound for McPherson, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 14-13 lead. The bucket was part of a 12-0 Mac run that gave them a 22-13 lead with 7:16 left in the first half.

Jentri Dixon would then spark an 8-1 run for the Lady Coyotes, as they got back within two with five minutes left in the first half. McPherson would post a rally of their own, outscoring KWU 8-3 to end the half, taking a 31-24 lead into the break.

McPherson (11-5, 5-3) opened the half with six unanswered to take its biggest lead of 13 at 37-24 with 18:59 left. Wesleyan would make a run at the Lady Bulldogs, putting together a 6-0 run to get within seven at 37-30 with 17 minutes left on free throws by Charressa Gray.

McPherson would jump out to another eight point lead, before the Coyotes would make another run at the Lady Bulldogs, taking their first lead since midway through the first half on a three by Sarah Montoya with 7:56 left. Montoya’s three was part of a 20-7 Wesleyan run that saw the Coyotes lead by as many as five with 6:42 left on a three by Jenn Lee.

Jamie Harvey would score five straight for McPherson to tie things up at 53-all before Montoya would hit another triple to give Wesleyan its last lead at 56-53. April Woody would answer Montoya with a three tying things up at 56 with 4:20 left, and McPherson pulled away for the 65-60 win.

Peters led the Coyotes with 15 points, while Dittmer added 10 as Wesleyan shot 21-of-51 from the field for 34.4 percent. Dixon led the Coyotes on the boards with 12, while Dittmer added seven and Peters had six as Wesleyan outrebounded McPherson 40-35. Peters also tied the KWU Career Free Throws made record going 3-for-4 from the line. She made the tying shot at the 16:05 mark in the second half, and had a chance to break, but misfired on her second attempt. Her 285 career foul shot makes ties her with Coyote Athletic Hall-of-Famer Jill Rietzke who set the mark in 1979.

Woody led McPherson with a game high 21, while Harvey and Angelina Fiorenzi each scored 11 for the Lady Bulldogs who shot 22-of-52 from the field for 42.3 percent. Fiorenzi and Simms led McPherson with six rebounds each.

Wesleyan returns to action on Thursday as they host Saint Mary in the middle game of a three game homestand that concludes next Saturday against Ottawa.

-- KWU SI --