McPHERSON, Kan. (CCCTigers.com) – The 2024 Mayors cup for the women will be contesting for the 23rd time in the History of the Rivalry. McPherson Leads the Rivalry 20-2, and has won the last 19 meetings. Central last won in 2006-07 season when they played the Bulldogs 2 times.
Coaches:
Central-Brad Willems: 2nd season at Central (6-24 overall). 0-1 in Mayors Cup
McPherson-Josh Nichols: 7th season at McPherson (77-99 overall). 6-0 in Mayors Cup
Players:
Central Probable Starters:
#2 Halle Winsea-9ppg, 2rpg, 1apg, 0.5spg
#3 Chloe Clevenger-13ppg, 9.5rpg, 3apg, 2.5spg
#22 Cristiana Laudan-9ppg, 5.5rpg, 1apg, 1.5 spg
#23 Charmayne Marshall-6ppg, 3.5rpg, 1apg, 0.5spg
#35 Denia Miller-2ppg, 2rpg, 0apg, 1spg
McPherson Probable Starters:
#13 Raeghan Borman-0ppg, 1rpg, 0apg, 0.5spg
#14 Laura Guillamat-Ribo-16ppg, 2.5rpg, 3.5apg, 2.5spg
#21 Jayla Moore-5.5ppg, 2.5rpg, 1.5apg, 1.5spg
#24 Kennedy Smith-12ppg, 7.5rpg, 0.5apg, 2.5spg
#35 Gillian Rodgers-10ppg, 3.0rpg, 0.5apg, 1.5spg
Team Stats:
Central Stats McPherson
53.5 PPG 60.0
66 PPGA 70.0
33 RPG 31
8.0 APG 10.5
33.3 FG% 37.4
23.6 3PT% 27.6
Game Day:
Location: Central Christian College-Alexander Arena
TV: SAC Sports Network
Radio: Ad Astra Radio
Time: 6pm
Last Meeting:
McPherson defeated Central by a score of 78-58, last season. Central had cut the lead to single digits going into the 4th quarter, and the Bulldogs outscored the Tigers 20-9 in the final frame. Briasia Garza had a career high 26 points for the Tigers, and Chloe Clevenger led the Bulldogs with 20 points. This was the 18th straight win for McPherson College in the Mayor’s Cup.
This Year:
This highly anticipated annual rivalry looks to be one of the better meetings historically. The Bulldogs despite dropping their 1st 2 are athletic and deep. Expect to see 10-12 Bulldogs getting significant minutes. They are led by Graduate Transfer Laura Guillamat-Ribo, a transfer from Kansas City Christian College, where she averaged 16.5 points per game, and averaging 16.0 for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have experience on their side in Josh Nichols’ program with returning starters, Jayla Moore and Gillian Rodgers from last year’s Mayors Cup game. They also return Mikela Boyd, who played one of her best games of the season a year ago scoring 10 points against the Tigers. Pair Boyd with Freshman Kennedy Smith, and the front court will be athletic and tough to defend. The Central Tigers have a new look to them, and look to be starting 1 returner from last year’s starting line-up in the Mayors cup game. Three new Transfers enter the starting lineup, and a 4th transfer, Kayla Hall (SW Christian College) is the energy off the bench, scoring double figures in each game. Charmayne Marshall comes from NW Oklahoma State, Cristiana Laudan from Murray State, and Chloe Clevenger transferred to Central from McPherson College.
Clevenger leads the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals after 2 games. Halle Winsea returns to the Tigers, and is averaging 9 points per game this season, has made 4 3 pointers so far, and averaged 9 ppg a year ago. Marshall and Laudan’s athleticism looks to slow down the frontcourt duo from McPherson. Clevenger, the Kansas 4A Defensive player of the year in 2023 will look to match Guillamat-Ribo, and could be a fun match up at the Backcourt.
Look to see great energy from the players, and the students in this one. The Bulldogs have won 19 games in a row in the rivalry, but the Tigers look to take a bite into the streak.
