Lincoln, Neb. – The Bulldogs went on the road for the first time this season, traveling to Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday to take on the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves. McPherson entered the matchup looking to improve to 5-0, while Nebraska Wesleyan sought a win to begin their season.
The Basics
Location: Snyder Arena
Score: MC 77, NWU 62
Records: MC 5-0 (KCAC 0-0), NWU 0-1 (AR 0-0)
How it Happened
Amyah Williams-Woodmore opened the scoring for the Bulldogs, tying the game at 2-2 after Nebraska Wesleyan’s Alison Davis put the hosts on the board first. The score stayed tight throughout the first quarter, with McPherson’s largest lead coming at four points following a pair of layups from Raegan Borman. Oliva Bell gave the Bulldogs a three-point cushion heading into the second quarter after finishing a layup and blocking a three-point attempt as time expired.
McPherson shot 56% from the field in the first quarter but couldn’t find their rhythm from deep, going 0 for 5 from beyond the arc. The Bulldogs extended their lead to five early in the second, but a three pointer from the Prairie Wolves closed the gap to two. A brief momentum swing put Nebraska Wesleyan ahead by five, but Taylor Berkheimer answered with McPherson’s first made three of the night to reclaim the lead. McPherson carried a 40-36 advantage into halftime after a late jumper from the Prairie Wolves cut the margin to four.
Both teams tallied 17 points in the third quarter, with McPherson maintaining its slim lead. The Bulldogs and Prairie Wolves each shot 33% from the floor, though McPherson held the edge from three-point range while Nebraska Wesleyan was more efficient at the free-throw line. Gillian Rodgers buried a clutch three-pointer in the closing seconds to push McPherson’s lead back to four entering the final frame.
The Bulldogs dominated the boards down the stretch, outrebounding Nebraska Wesleyan 16-8 and limiting the Prairie Wolves to just nine points in the fourth quarter. McPherson also found their touch from long range, shooting 33% behind Mikah Hammerquist’s 3 for 6 efforts from deep. The Bulldogs pulled away late to secure a 77-62 victory and remain unbeaten at 5-0.
Hammerquist led the Bulldog with scoring 16 points, followed by Borman with 14. Auhnesty Hawkins added a double-double performance, recording 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return home on Wednesday night to face off against the Baker Wildcats for their final non-conference game of the season. Tipoff is set for 5:30 PM.
