By STEVE SELL, Sentinel Sports Editor

Sentinel Staff Photo by Steve Sell. McPherson College's April Bryley (top) tries to steal the ball from Bethany's Candace Friedrich (42) in action Thursday.

LINDSBORG -- Apparently there WAS a method to Mel Wright's scheduling madness.

Wright's Bulldogs played a marshmallow-soft preseason schedule last year. While it got them off to a good start at 7-1, they crashed and burned during the KCAC portion of the season.

This year, Wright loaded up with the Fort Hays' and Emporia States of the world and the result was a 2-6 record.

But when the Bulldogs opened KCAC play Thursday, all of those bad beats paid off, as they sent shockwaves throughout the KCAC with a stunning 64-61 upset of intra-county rival Bethany.

It was the first loss ever for Bethany coach Trent May against Mac, and it was only Wright's second win ever against Bethany, and he's in his 10th year.

"It helped us," Wright said of his brutal schedule that resulted in some decidedly lopsided losses. "I don't know if I'd want that tough of a schedule again, but it definitely made a difference."

Despite the tight score, Mac trailed for only 37 seconds in the game when Bethany took a 12-11 lead. But after Danell Brunk scored shortly after that, the game belonged to the Bulldogs.

But not without some anxious moments. Mac led by as many as 11 in the first half, but Bethany closed strong to trail by only six at the break, 31-25.

In the second half, the Bulldogs sprinted to a 56-46 lead, only to see the Swedes go on a 10-0 sizz to tie it with just over two minutes to go.

But right after that, Mac's April Bryley came up with a steal and basket to break the tie, and then Brunk hit some clutch free throws down the stretch. Dallas Archer had a 3 to tie it at the buzzer, but it missed.

Crystal Richardson led Mac with 19 points, while Brunk had a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Off the bench, a huge contriubtion was made by Rebecca Bratcher, who had 12 points.

Kenyada Frazier had a nice game for Bethany with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

"It's conference time and everybody gets up to play," May said. "But we took them for granted. We think we're Bethany and we always win here and they're McPherson. And they came out and took it to us. You have to give them credit."

Mac, now 3-6 overall, goes to Bethel Saturday, while Bethany, 4-4, goes to Ottawa.

Mac (64) -- Bryley 2 0-0 4; Brunk 4 9-12 17; Richardson 6 4-6 19; Schierling 2 2-2 7; Kline 1 0-1 2; Blose 1 0-0 3; Bratcher 4 4-4 12. Totals -- 20 19-25 64. 3-pointers -- Richardson 3, Schierling 1, Blose 1.

Bethany (61) -- Frazier 7 6-12 20; Parker 2 0-1 4; Mashburn 0 2-4 2; Archer 2 3-5 8; Robertson 4 0-0 8; Craig 2 0-0 5; McKnight 0 1-2 1; Dohl 3 0-0 6; Friedrich 3 1-2 7. Totals --23 13-26 61. 3-pointers -- Archer 1, Craig 1.