Ottawa has an overall record of 8-7 and a KCAC mark of 3-6. The Braves have lost three straight and have a home record of 5-2. OU's three straight losses are to Missouri Baptist University (67-59) on Dec. 30, Friends University (79-61) on Jan. 3 and Avila University (68-67) on Jan. 7.
The Braves lost their third straight on a last second shot on Wednesday evening in Mabee Fieldhouse against Avila University, 68-67.
Clare Williams gave OU a 67-66 lead with five second left to go in the game but Madilyn Melton scored the game winning basket with one second left in the game. Ottawa shot 40.0 percent from the field and 90.0 percent from the free-throw line.
McKinley Kruger led Ottawa with 17 points, while
Clare Williams added 13 points.
Ashlynn Arnsman chipped in 12 points off the bench.
Aaliyah Brown paced the Braves on the glass with seven rebounds, and
Hailey Rademan dished out five assists.
This season the Braves are averaging 76.5 points, 42.6 rebounds, and 15.9 assists per game. OU is shooting 40 percent from the floor, 29.7 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.
McKinley Kruger leads the Braves in scoring (10.9) and steals per game (1.6).
Aaliyah Brown is OU's leader in rebounding (7.1).
Hailey Rademan leads Ottawa in assists (2.4) and
Ashlynn Arnsman is the team's leader in blocks (0.6) per game.
Dominique Schutte has made 112 3-pt field goals in one and a half seasons. That total ranks her ninth in the OU record book in career 3-pt field goals made. Braves Athletic Hall of Fame member, Brittany Broyles, holds the school record of 289 (2003-2007). Schutte has made 35 3-pt field goals this season which ranks her 56th in the NAIA.
Ottawa is ranked 41st in the NAIA in scoring (1,147), 38th in points per game (76.5), 44th in field goals made per game (27.7), 14th in field goals attempted per game (69.4), 15th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.2), 10th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (31), 26th in offensive rebounds per game (15.6), 37th in total rebounds per game (42.6), 37th in opponent offensive rebounds per game (9.3), 37th in rebound margin (6.6), 43rd in assists per game (15.9), 34th in turnovers per game (14), 39th in opponent steals per game (7.1), and 40th in offensive efficiency (1.005).
Saturday is the 92nd game between Ottawa University and Tabor College. The Bluejays lead the series 61-30 but OU snapped its 13 game losing streak to Tabor in the first meeting this season in Hillsboro on Nov. 19, 65-57. It was Ottawa's first win over Tabor on the road since Feb. 2, 2012, 59-49. That win snapped 14 straight losses in Hillsboro. The Braves have lost five straight to the Bluejays in Wilson Field House. OU's last home victory over Tabor came on Jan. 6, 2018, 59-56. The first game between the two teams happened on Nov. 20, 1979 in Wilson Field House. OU won the game 45-39.
In the first game this season on Nov. 19 in Tabor Gymnasium Ottawa shot 48.1% from the floor and 88.9% from the free-throw line. OU won the battle in the paint 40–28 and scored 19 bench points. The game saw nine ties and nine lead changes, with the Braves' largest lead (11) coming in the fourth quarter.
McKinley Kruger led OU with 15 points. She had six rebounds and two steals.
Tabor College is 7-8 overall and 5-4 in the KCAC. The Bluejays enter Saturday's game coming off a 57-56 loss to Bethany College last Wednesday in Hillsboro. Tabor is 2-5 on the road this season.
This season the Bluejays are averaging 60.2 points, 33.1 rebounds, and 12.3 assists per game. Tabor is shooting 40 percent from the floor, 28.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line and 67.1 percent from the free throw line.
Tayton Smith is averaging a double-double, leading the Bluejays in scoring (11.8) and rebounding (10.4). Hailey Contreras is TC's leader in assists (3.3). Smith is the team's leader in blocks (1.5). Contreras and Adrian Hazelwood is the Bluejays' leader in steals (1.3) per game.
The Bluejays are ranked 10th in the NAIA in opponent offensive rebounds per game (8.1), 26th in opponent total rebounds per game (32.8), 19th in opponent assists per game (9.8),36th in opponent blocks per game (2.1), and 43rd in personal fouls per game (15).
On the road this season, Tabor is scoring 10 points less per game than it does at home (54.9). The Bluejays are shooting 36.3 percent from the floor and 24.4 percent from the free throw line.