Box Score ATCHISON, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team defeated Baker University 84-72 on Saturday afternoon. The Braves used a strong opening quarter and a balanced offensive attack to take control of the contest, leading from start to finish.

McKinley Kruger led Ottawa with a game-high 23 points, while Miranda Patterson added 14 points and eight rebounds. The Braves shot 52.5 percent from the field and held Baker to 36.2 percent shooting to improve to 1-1 overall.

Ottawa had four players score in double figures and built a lead as large as 22 points in the third quarter.

First Quarter: Ottawa 26, Baker 15
The Braves established themselves early, opening the game with baskets from Patterson and Sydney Kessler to take a 4-0 lead. After Baker pulled within one, 6-5, Kruger knocked down a 3-pointer and Patterson scored in transition to extend Ottawa's advantage to 11-5 with 6:32 remaining.

Baker responded with consecutive 3-pointers to cut the deficit to three, 14-11, but the Braves answered with an 8-0 run. Free throws from Kessler, a basket by Kiana Hostetler and a layup from Clare Williams gave Ottawa a 22-11 advantage with 3:20 left.

The Braves maintained their double-digit lead down the stretch, with Patterson scoring in transition in the final 18 seconds to send Ottawa into the second quarter ahead 26-15.

Second Quarter: Ottawa 42, Baker 29
Ottawa opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Dominique Schutte, extending its lead to 29-15. Schutte followed with a basket to put the Braves ahead 31-18.

Baker responded with an 11-0 run, cutting Ottawa's advantage to 31-29 with 2:38 remaining in the half. The Braves regrouped defensively and closed the quarter with an 11-0 run of their own.

Schutte started the surge with a basket, and Kiana Hostetler followed with a layup. Williams then recorded back-to-back steals and converted both into transition baskets, pushing the Ottawa lead to 39-29.
Patterson capped the run with a three-point play with 33 seconds remaining, giving Ottawa a 42-29 halftime advantage.

The Braves outscored Baker 16-14 in the quarter and carried a 13-point lead into the locker room.

Third Quarter: Ottawa 63, Baker 45
Ottawa continued its offensive momentum in the third quarter, outscoring Baker 21-16 to extend its advantage to 18 points.

Schutte opened the Braves' scoring with a 3-pointer, and Patterson followed with a transition layup. Kruger added another basket to put Ottawa ahead 49-31 with 7:31 remaining, forcing a Baker timeout.

The Wildcats trimmed the deficit to 13 points, but the Braves responded. Kiana Hostetler connected from beyond the arc, Kruger scored inside and Aushara Hostetler knocked down a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 60-39 with 2:41 left.

Patterson added another basket in transition with 1:37 remaining, giving Ottawa its largest lead of the contest at 63-41.

Baker scored the final four points of the period, but the Braves entered the fourth quarter holding a commanding 63-45 advantage.

Fourth Quarter: Ottawa 84, Baker 72
The Braves maintained control in the final quarter despite a late push by the Wildcats.

Kessler opened the scoring with a basket to extend Ottawa's lead to 65-45. Baker responded with a 9-0 run, cutting the Braves' advantage to 65-54 with 5:33 remaining.

Ottawa answered with a pair of free throws from Kruger, a basket from Addisen Wills and another free throw from Aushara Hostetler to extend its advantage to 72-56.

The Wildcats continued to battle, trimming the deficit to 75-64 with 2:04 left. However, Chloe Neufeld connected on a crucial 3-pointer with 1:45 remaining, extending Ottawa's lead to 78-64.

Kessler added a basket with 42 seconds remaining, and Kruger converted four free throws in the final 26 seconds to secure the 84-72 victory.

Baker outscored Ottawa 27-21 in the fourth quarter, but the Braves' early advantage proved too much for the Wildcats to overcome.

Inside the Box Score

• McKinley Kruger led Ottawa with a game-high 23 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. She added seven rebounds, two assists and one steal.
• Miranda Patterson finished with 14 points, a team-high eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. She shot 6-for-9 from the field.
• Dominique Schutte scored 10 points, connecting on 4-of-8 field goal attempts and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. She added three rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
• Sydney Kessler finished with 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one steal and a game-high five blocked shots.
• Clare Williams added nine points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals and one blocked shot.
• Kiana Hostetler provided nine points off the bench, shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 1-for-1 from 3-point range. She also recorded two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot.
• Aushara Hostetler contributed four points and two rebounds.
• Chloe Neufeld scored three points, connecting on her only 3-point attempt.
• Addisen Wills finished with two points and one steal.
• Ottawa shot 52.5 percent (31-for-59) from the field, compared to Baker's 36.2 percent (25-for-69).
• The Braves connected on 43.8 percent (7-for-16) of their 3-point attempts and shot 78.9 percent (15-for-19) from the free-throw line.
• Ottawa outrebounded Baker 41-34 and finished with 17 assists, eight steals and eight blocked shots.
• The Braves received 18 points from their bench, compared to 10 for the Wildcats.
• Ottawa led for the entire contest, with its largest advantage reaching 22 points in the third quarter.
• Baker was led by Gabby Rose's 22 points. Skyte Wilson added 12 points, while Quinn Carpenter finished with 10.

Who is Next
Ottawa (2-1) will now play an exhibition contest against NCAA Division II opponent Drury University in Springfield, Mo. on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The game is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.