Ottawa got back on the winning track with a 76-58 victory over McPherson College on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House. OU shot 45 percent from the floor, 35.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 78.6 percent from the free throw line.
Kennedy Bankett had a double-double, finishing with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
The Braves are in seventh in the KCAC with a record of 9-9. Bethany right above Ottawa in the standings with a mark of 11-8. There are four games remaining in the regular season and the top eight teams in conference qualify for the KCAC Tournament.
This season, Ottawa is averaging 73.5 points, 38.2 rebounds, and 12.5 assists per game. OU is shooting 39.6 percent from the floor, 34.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line.
OU is ranked 31st in the NAIA in field goals attempted per game (66.4), 19th in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.9), 28th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (25.9), 28th in 3pt field goal percentage (.343), 32nd in free throw percentage (.744), 49th in steals per game (10.50, 39th in blocks per game (3.5).
Kennedy Bankett leads the Braves in scoring, averaging 15.2 points per game. She is shooting 56.4 percent from the floor and 48.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In KCAC play, Bankett averaging 16.6 points per game and shooting 57.5 percent from the floor and 52.2 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Bankett leads the Braves in rebounding (5.4) and
Jayla Johnson is the team's leader in assists (1.8) and steals (1.5) per game.
The Braves are 4-6 on the road this season. OU is averaging 64.8 points per game, shooting 37.7 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from behind the arc. Opponents are scoring 66.9 points per game and shooting 38.5 percent from the floor, and 27.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Kennedy Bankett and
Katelyn Alatini are both scoring in double figures away from Wilson Field House this season. Bankett is averaging 13.6 points and shooting 53.3 percent from the floor. Alatini is scoring 10.4 points and shooting 33 percent from the floor. She is shooting 37.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Saturday's game is the 94th meeting between Ottawa and Bethany. The Swedes lead the series, 59-34. OU snapped its 10 game losing streak to Bethany in the first meeting this season on Jan. 3 in Wilson Field House, 70-68. The Braves have lost five straight games in Hahn Gymnasium. OU's last win in Lindsborg was on Nov. 26, 2018. Ottawa won the game, 71-59. The very first game between the two teams happened on Feb. 12, 1908 in Ottawa. The Braves won the game, 22-20.
In the 70-68 win over Bethany on Jan. 3 in Wilson Field House, Ottawa shot 48.1 percent from the floor, 42.9 percent from behind the 3-pt line and 68.8 percent from the free throw line. OU had four players in double figures, led by
Abby Dietsche's 23 points. She had two assists, three blocks, and three steals.
Kennedy Bankett finished with 12 points and four steals.
Katelyn Alatini and Tootie Allen scored 11 points apiece.
Nayeli Acosta led OU with three assists.
Bethany College has an overall record of 13-12, a mark of 11-8 in the KCAC, and is 6-3 at home in Hahn Gymnasium this season. The Swedes are 2-3 in their last five games and enter Saturday's game coming off a 68-64 loss at Evangel University on Wednesday night.
This season, the Swedes are averaging 68.4 points, 36.5 rebounds, and 13.5 assists per game. They are shooting 39.2 percent from the floor, 29.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.8 percent from the free throw line.
R'Manie Pulling leads the Swedes in scoring, averaging 12.9 points game. She is shooting 37.6 percent from the floor and 26.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line. In KCAC play, Pulling is averaging 14.5 points per game and shooting 39.1 percent from the floor and 25.4 percent from behind the arc.
Jaden Newfarmer leads Bethany in rebounding (6.3), Pulling is the team's leader in assists (2.5), and Emily Green is BC's leader in steals (1.9) per game.
In nine home games this season, Bethany is averaging 66.9 points and shooting 38.8 percent from the floor and 28.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line.
Bethany is averaging 76.8 points and shooting 42.4 percent from the floor in its 13 wins this season. In the Swedes' 12 losses, they are scoring 59.3 points and shooting 35.6 percent from the floor.
