Schedule | Roster | Stats | Gallery | Signings
All-KCAC Honors | Weekly
KCAC Honors
Women’s Basketball Review
Coming off of McPherson College’s third winning season in the past 25 years, the Lady Bulldogs entered the 2008 season with three returning full-time starters, three key reserves, and a boat load of expectations along with a new coach, and a much anticipated newcomer,
But, the season wasn’t going to be all smooth sailing and reality set in quickly as the Bulldogs were upset in their season opener.
Rather than fold, the Bulldogs regrouped, put together a five-game winning streak, and began to garner votes in the NAIA D-II national poll as they entered the KCAC portion of their schedule.
The conference portion of the Bulldogs’ schedule opened with back-to-back losses to defending champion Sterling and Tabor, but a win over intra-county rival Bethany sent the Bulldogs into the holiday break with a positive attitude and jump started what would become a six-game win streak.
After a pair of disappointing losses ended the win streak, the Bulldogs won seven of their final 10 games to finish the regular season 18-8 and with an 11-7 conference mark, good for third place.
The Bulldogs opened KCAC post-season tournament play with a 22-point win over Friends in the quarterfinals. With that win the Lady Bulldogs tied the school record for wins in a season (19) originally set in 1981, and set up a return match at Southwestern, a team that had handed McPherson a pair of heartbreaking losses during the regular season.
Led by their long range offense, the Builders ended the Bulldogs’ season, denying the McPherson a berth in the KCAC post-season championship game and bringing to a close their record tying, 19-9 season. The Bulldogs finished the season leading the NAIA D-II in blocked shots per game and field goal percentage defense.
The Lady Bulldogs topped the KCAC with three players being named to the All-KCAC first team, seniors April Woody and Whitney Pegram along with junior Jamie Sims Brewer.
Woody, who became the fifth Lady Bulldog to ever score 1,000 or more points in their McPherson career, concluded her playing days #3 on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,149 points. After setting a school record for free throw percentage in a season (86.8%) as a junior, Woody ended her career as the Bulldogs’ all-time leading free thrower at 79.9%.
Pegram, in her only season with the Bulldogs, led the NAIA D-II in blocked shots per game. She also set school records for blocked shots in a game (9), season (123), and career (123), in addition to tying the school record for rebounds (17) in a game.
Brewer, who topped the Bulldogs in total assists and steals, finished second to Pegram in scoring. Jamie ended the regular season second in the KCAC in both steals and assists per game.
Also concluding their McPherson College playing careers were seniors Becky Bratcher, Callie Coberly, and Amy Porter.
Following the season, it was announced that Marcus Hicks would not return for a second season as the head coach of the Lady Bulldogs.
