| 03-04 Season
Schedule | Roster
| Stats | Gallery | Signings
All-KCAC & NAIA Honors
The start of the 2003-2004 women’s basketball season was a confidence builder as the Lady Bulldogs’ opened with a 7-1 start, 2-0 in the KCAC. Included were wins over Bethel and the University of Saint Mary, both picked to finish ahead of McPherson in the KCAC race, and a split with York College. But, as positive as the start was, the final three weeks of the season were disappointing as McPherson struggled home 1-7, and finished the season with a six-game losing streak.
After averaging over 78 points per game during their 7-1 start, the Bulldogs’ offense disappeared as they slipped into a four-game losing streak heading into the holiday break and the first two games of 2004.
Highlighting the second half of the schedule was McPherson’s overtime win at Friends on February 5, but it also was the final win the Lady Bulldogs’ would grab. The Bulldogs did sweep their season series with both Saint Mary and Central Christian, but the lack of inside size and general quickness was too much to overcome in the KCAC, which placed three teams in the NAIA’s top 15 rankings and the national tournament.
Erica Alvarez completed her collegiate eligibility with her selection to the KCAC’s first team for the second time in her career. With 1,509 points, Alvarez ended her McPherson career as the second leading scorer in school history. She also set school records for points scored in a season (484 as a sophomore), free throws made in a season and in a career.
Alvarez finished the 2004 season averaging 15.7 points and 7.9 rebounds to lead McPherson, while junior Crystal Richardson followed with 11.1 points and 6.1 boards. With another 300-point season in 2005, Richardson could become the fourth Lady Bulldog to score 1,000 points during her collegiate career. Andi Wilder, the only other senior in the program this season, added 8.6 points, but was forced to play out of position at the point guard most of the year. Keys to the future of the Lady Bulldog program will be Brenna Schierling (9.6 points), a transfer from Dodge City CC, home grown Ashley Kline (4.5), who began to assert herself offensively the second half of the season, Christa Blose (8.2) and Richardson. Top returners who came off the bench in 2004, but who will be expected to make major contributions next year were freshmen Abby Suiter, Chandra Mayhan, Sheila Bevan, Sheree Kriley, and Jamie Rodriguez along with upperclassmen Desiree Bostic, Amy Wiggins and Taura Davis.
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