Ottawa fell 72-70 to University of Saint Mary on Wednesday night at the Ryan Sports Center. OU shot 41.4 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. The Braves had three players in double digits.
Jayla Johnson came off the bench to lead OU in scoring with 15 points.
This season, Ottawa is averaging 75.4 points, 37.2 rebounds, and 13.1 assists per game. The Braves are shooting 40 percent from the floor, 35.4 percent from behind the arc, and 72.2 percenet from the free throw line.
The Braves will be playing short handed for most of the rest of the season.
Abby Dietsche is out with an injury. She was averaging 12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Dietsche is tied for third in the NAIA in blocks with 34.
Janiyah Hendricks suffered a season ending injury in the win over Kansas Wesleyan University on Dec. 6. She was averaging 10 points, three rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.4 steals per game. Hendricks led OU in assists and steals.
Ottawa is led in scoring by
Kennedy Bankett, averaging 12.7 points per game. She is shooting 52.8 percent from the floor, and 43.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line. Bankett also leads the team in rebounding (4.4) and steals (1.7) per game.
Jayla Johnson leads OU in assists (1.8) per game.
OU is ranked 42nd in the NAIA in points (1,131), 44th in points per game (75.4), 25th in field goals attempted per game (67.3), 14th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.1), 33rd in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (25.6), 19th in 3-pt field goal percentage (.354), 26th in steals per game (12.2), and 14th in blocks per game (4.3).
Ottawa has a record of 6-3 in Wilson Field House this season and has won three straight home games. The Braves are outscoring opponents 80-68 and OU is shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the arc, and 75.3 percent from the free throw line. In the nine home games, opponents are turning the ball over 25.4 times per game.
Saturday is the 92nd meeting between the two teams. Southwestern leads the series, 55-35-1. Ottawa is on a two game winning streak against Southwestern, winning both contests between the two teams last year. OU defeated SWC 83-36 in Winfield on Nov. 19, 2022. The Braves then won 68-53 in Wilson Field House on Jan. 21, 2023. OU has seven straight home victories against the Moundbuilders. Ottawa's last loss to Southwestern in Wilson Field House was on Dec. 10, 2015. SWC won the game 61-48. The first time the two teams met was on Feb. 8, 1909 in Winfield. The game ended in a 16-16 tie.
Southwestern College is 0-13 overall and 0-8 in the KCAC. This season the Moundbuilders are 0-8 on the road and enter Saturday's game coming off a 74-46 loss to Bethany College on Wednesday night.
The Moundbuilders are averaging 57.5 points, 34.8 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game. They are shooting 33.2 percent from the floor, 26.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 65.3 percent from the free throw line.
Christy Wiebe leads SWC in scoring, averaging 10.7 points per game. She is shooting 38.3 percent from the floor and 20 percent (6-for-30) from behind the 3-pt line. Wiebe also leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.5 rebounds per game. Heather Chiesi is the team's leader in assists (1.7) per game and Airalyn Frame is SWC's leader in steals (1.3) per game.
In road games this season, Southwestern is scoring 54.5 points per game. SWC is shooting 31.2 percent from the floor, 24.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.9 percent fom the free throw line.
Dating back to last season, Southwestern has lost 23 straight games. SWC's last win occurred on Jan. 14, 2023 in Stewart Field House against Avila University, 61-49. That win was also the last time Southwestern won a conference game. That is 18 straight conference losses.
In KCAC play the Moundbuilders are averaging 60.1 points per game and shooting 33.2 percent from the floor, 28.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 66.9 percent from the free throw line.
