Mac women cruise, 81-61.  

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Since the Christmas break, McPherson College women’s basketball coach Mel Wright believes his team has come together.

The Bulldogs played two solid games last week in the Sterling Classic, only to be saddled with two losses.

But another solid effort here Thursday resulted in an 81-61 victory over Saint Mary College.

The Bulldogs inched toward the .500 mark in the KCAC at 2-3 and are now 5-8 overall heading into another home game Saturday against Friends.

“We’ve played pretty well since coming back,” Wright said.  “We played a lot better defensively and tonight the transition game was working.  Sharla Odhams had a fantastic game and Amber Jackson stepped up with a good game, which she really needed.  I thought we got some good play from our bench.”

The Bulldogs used a 21-2 run to build up a 29-12 lead in the first half, only to see Saint Mary pull within 41-36 by halftime.  But the Bulldogs cam out strong in the second half, and back-to-back treys by Jackson and Crystal Richardson gave them the impetus to take off and hide from the Spires.

Odhams had a huge night for Mac, scoring 16 points, coming up with 7 steals and 7 rebounds.  Erica Alvarez, who continues to see double teams, finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds, while Jackson scored 13.  The Bulldogs received 26 points from the bench, including 9 points from Christa Blose, 8 from Andrea Wilder and 7 from Treasett Horner.  Mac made 10 treys on the night, a season high.

Katie Buy led Saint Mary with 15 points.

Mac’s game Saturday against Friends is set for 5 p.m.  The Falcons nearly pulled off a stunner Thursday, losing 83-78 in triple overtime to No. 2-ranked Sterling, which received a monstrous 34-point night from McPherson native Kristina Barrow.

Mac (81) – Odhams 6 2-2 16; Blose 3 2-2 9; Horner 2 3-4 7; Richardson 2 0-0 5; Jackson 5 0-2 13; Gremmer 2 1-2 6; Wilder 3 0-0 8; Hagen 0 2-2 2; Alvarez 5 5-6 15.  Totals – 28 15-20 81.  3-pointers – Jackson 3, Odhams 2, Wilder 2, Blsoe 1, Richardson 1, Gremmer 1.

Saint Mary (61) – Norby 1 1-4 3; Wohletz 1 0-1 2; Ansel 1 0-0 3; Bryant 3 1-1 7; Day 2 0-1 6; Hankins 3 3-4 9; Sigel 2 4-4 9; Guy 5 5-8 15; Seevers 2 4-5 8.  Totals – 20 18-28 61.  3-pointers – Day 2, Ansel 1.