The Braves finished the regular season with an 84-81 loss to the University of Saint Mary in Wilson Field House last Saturday afternoon. Ottawa shot 46.9 percent from the floor, 47.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 61.9 percent from the free throw line.
Nicole Brown led OU with a double-double. She scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds.
Cierra Brown scored 23 points and
Katelyn Alatini finished with 15 points.
Ottawa's 17 victories are the most by the Braves since the 2016-17 season when OU finished the year with a record of 18-13.
Nicole Brown leads OU in scoring (16.6), rebounding (11.6), and blocks (1.9) per game.
Cierra Brown is OU's leader in assists (2.2) and steals (1.7).
OU has a road record of 7-6 and a KCAC road mark of 6-5. Ottawa has won four straight road games with its last loss on the road happening on Jan. 14 in Hillsboro against Tabor College in overtime, 52-40.
On the road this season, OU is averaging 65.6 points while allowing 64.3 points per game. Ottawa is shooting 41.9 percent from the floor, 31.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70.1 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are shooting 38.4 percent from the floor, 30.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 70.6 percent from the floor.
Ottawa is 18-22 all-time in the KCAC Tournament. The Braves won the 2003-04, 2005-06, and 2006-07 KCAC Tournaments. This is sixth meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University in the KCAC Tournament. The Braves have a record of 3-2 against KWU in the KCAC Tournament. The Coyotes have won the last two KCAC Tournament games against the Braves. The last time the teams met in the tournament was on Feb. 23, 2017 in Salina. KWU won the game, 68-61. This is just the second time that the two teams have met in Salina in the KCAC Tournament.
OU is 7-3 in its last 10 games and are 3-2 in its last five games. In its last five games, The Braves are outscoring opponents 75-65. OU is holding opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the floor.
This season, Ottawa is averaging 69.3 points, 39.2 rebounds, and 13.2 assists per game. OU is shooting 41.9 percent from the floor, 30.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.5 percent from the free throw line.
OU is ranked 48th in the NAIA in free throw percentage (.725), 44th in defensive rebounds per game (28.8), and 48th in opponent field goal percentage (.367).
Thursday's game is the 91st meeting between Ottawa University and Kansas Wesleyan University. KWU has won four straight against OU, including winning both contests this season. KWU defeated the Braves 72-55 in Mabee Arena on Dec. 7 and 70-68 in Wilson Field House on Feb. 4.
The first meeting between the two teams took place in 1907. Ottawa won the game 21-16.
OU has lost eight straight games on the road in Salina. Ottawa's last victory over the Coyotes in Mabee Arena was on Feb. 13, 2016. OU won the game 67-56. That win is the Braves only win in Mabee Arena. OU is 1-15 against Kansas Wesleyan in Mabee Arena.
In Ottawa and KWU's two regular season meetings, the Coyotes are outscoring OU 71-61. Ottawa is shooting 40.8 percent from the floor, 24.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line. KWU is shooting 42.6 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 67.4 percent from the free throw line.
Kansas Wesleyan University is 19-9 overall and finished the KCAC regular season with a record of 17-5 to place third in the conference. The Coyotes have won two straight games and are 9-3 at home.
After losing to Sterling, 76-66, on Feb. 11, the Coyotes have defeated Tabor College (62-61) on Feb. 15 and York University (70-34) on Feb. 18.
In the win over York ion Feb. 18, the Coyotes held the Panthers to seven points in both the second and fourth quarters to take the 70-34 victory. KWU shot 41.5 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 64.3 percent from the free throw line. Megan Foote led the Coyotes with 18 points, LaMyah Ricks scored 11 points, and Angel Roman came off the bench to score 10 points.
This season, KWU is averaging 69.3 points, 37.4 rebounds, and 12.4 assists per game. The Coyotes are shooting 41.8 percent from the floor, 32.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.9 percent from the free throw line.
KWU is ranked 50th in the NAIA in 3-pt field goal percentage (.323).
Tylieea Wallace leads KWU in scoring (12), rebounding (7.5), and blocks (0.8). LaMyah Ricks is the team's leader in assists (1.9) and steals (2) per game.
