BC women down Mac

By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

The rules say there has to be a winner, but neither Bethany College nor McPherson College's women seemed to want the victory Thursday.

In a game where the teams combined to barely shoot 50 percent, the Swedes were able to live off their early lead for a 56-47 victory at the Sport Center.

Bethany coach Trent May was hardly a happy camper after his team won despite committing 25 turnovers and shooting just 29 percent from the field. Yet, it remained in the hunt for a KCAC home playoff game, as it trails fourth-place Tabor by just a game.

"We won the game, but you can't say it was a good game," said May, whose team is now 10-7 in the KCAC and 15-12 overall. "We had a solid three days of practice, but why we couldn't produce tonight, I have no idea. Maybe it's my fault, because before the game I said let's go out and win with our defense. As a coach, maybe I should also have said we should win with our offense."

The first half was a nightmare for both teams, as Bethany opened the game sharp with a 15-1 lead after four minutes, but scored just 13 points the rest of the half. But it still led 28-12, as Mac shot just 18 percent.

"We were maybe trying too hard. We got kind of stressed," said McPherson coach Mel Wright, whose team is now 5-12 in the KCAC and 11-14 overall after a 7-1 start.

The Bulldogs, to their credit, picked up the intensity in the second half. Amazingly, they were down just five, 40-35, with 8:28 to go and had two chances to get it down to two, but missed on a pair of 3-pointers.

"We had our best 3-point shooters get a shot at it, but couldn't make it," Wright said.

Bethany, though, made just enough plays down the stretch to hang on.

Stacy Lee led Bethany with 15 points, while All-American candidate Jill Nech scored 10 and pulled down 14 rebounds. Bethany had a 58-47 advantage off the glass, as the Bulldogs time and again got caught watching the basketball instead of blocking out. Bethany had 20 second-chance points, the difference in the game.

Erica Alvarez had a sensational second half for Mac, keeping it in the game with 16 of her 19 points. She also had 11 rebounds for a double-double. Mac, though, shot only 23 percent for the game.

Mac closes the regular season Saturday at Southwestern. If the playoff swere to begin today, the Bulldogs would host Saint Mary in a play-in game next week. Mac has defeated Saint Mary twice this year, though the Spires have played some of the top teams close.

Mac (47) -- Schierling 1 2-2 5; Blose 2 4-4 9; Richardson 2 3-4 7; Wilder 1 0-1 3; Kline 2 0-0 4; Alvarez 7 5-10 19. Totals -- 15 14-21 47. 3-pointers -- Schierling 1, Blose 1, Wilder 1.

Bethany (56) -- McCrory 1 0-0 2; Urban 1 0-0 3; Ibarra 2 2-2 7; Lee 4 4-4 15; Nech 2 6-8 10; Roberson 2 0-1 4; Ohlman 1 0-0 3; Dohl 0 0-2 0; Smith 1 2-4 5; Friedrich 3 1-4 7. Totals -- 17 15-25 56. 3-pointers -- Lee 3, Urban 1, Ibarra 1, Ohlman 1, Smith 1.