Ottawa is 6-2 in its last eight games after defeating Avila University 81-76 on Wednesday night in Wilson Field House. The win moves the Braves to 14-9 overall and 9-8 in the KCAC. Ottawa is in seventh place in the KCAC with five games remaining. The top eight in the KCAC qualify for the conference tournament. OU is on a two game winning streak and has a record of 8-3 inside of Wilson Field House this season.
OU is averaging 76 points, 40.1 rebounds, and 15.9 assists per game. Ottawa is shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, 32.4 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.4 percent from the free throw line.
Dominique Schutte leads the Braves in scoring (12.7),
Aaliyah Brown is OU's leader in rebounds (6.3),
McKinley Kruger is the team's leader in assists (2.4),
Ashlynn Arnsman leads Ottawa in blocks (0.6), and Kruger is the Braves' leader in steals (1.7) per game.
Ottawa is ranked 32nd in the NAIA in scoring (1,749), 39th in points per game (76), 49th in field goals made per game (27.3), 23rd in field goals attempted per game (67.9), 13th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.6), 13th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (29.7), 49th in 3-pt field goal percentage (.324), 41st in offensive rebounds per game (14.3), 44th in opponent offensive rebounds per game (9.9), 44th in assists per game (15.9), 20th in turnovers per game (13.3), 10th in opponent steals per game (6.3), and 36th in offensive efficiency (1.010).
Ottawa's 16 made 3-pt field goals in its win over Avila University on Wednesday night are tied for third in the OU record book in single game made 3-pt field goals. OU's 36 attempted 3-pt field goals against the Eagles is seventh all-time in the OU record book.
Dominique Schutte connected on seven 3-pt field goals against Avila. Its the second time this season that she has made seven 3-pt field goals in a game. Schutte has 66 made 3-pt field goals this season which ties her for seventh with Braves Athletic Hall of Fame member Brittany Broyles (2004-05). Schutte's seven 3-pt field goals on Wednesday night moved her past Susan Watkins (1990-94) who was in eighth place with 140. She is six behind Melvetta Manning's (1997-2001) 149. Her 401 career 3-pt field goals attempted ranks her ninth in the OU record book, just four behind eighth place Manning (405).
In Ottawa's last five games, Schutte is averaging 19.4 points per game and shooting 41.1 percent from the floor, 43.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and is 13-for-13 from the free throw line. She is averaging just under five (4.8) made 3-pt field goals per game in her last five games.
OU's six freshmen also have excelled in the last five games. With five games remaining, they are scoring 44.7 points per game and averaging 55.7 percent of the Braves points.
Kiana Hostetler (3.5),
McKinley Kruger (14.4),
Molly Martin (7.4),
Clare Williams (7.6), Hailey Rodeman (6.4),
Alison Daniels (5.4).
Saturday will be the 101st game between Ottawa University and Friends University. The Falcons lead the series 76-24 and are on a six game winning streak against the Braves. OU has lost three straight at home to the Falcons. Ottawa's last win over Friends came on Feb. 1, 2023 in Wilson Field House, 60-45. The Falcons won the first meeting this season, 79-61, in the Garvey Center on Jan. 3. The first ever meeting between the two teams happened on Feb. 10, 1909 in Wichita. The Braves won the game, 30-21.
In Ottawa's 79-61 loss Friends in Wichita on Jan. 3, the Braves shot 35.9 percent from the floor, 26.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line. Ottawa had 18 offensive rebounds in the game.
Aaliyah Brown,
Dominique Schutte, and
Clare Williams led the Braves with 10 points apiece.
Friends University has an overall record of 20-3, is in second place in the KCAC with a mark of 14-3, is on a four game winning streak, and has a record of 11-1 on the road this season. Its lone road loss came on Jan. 21 at Bethel, 72-59. The Falcons are ranked no. 20 in the latest NAIA Poll.
Rayland Garner leads Friends in scoring (18.6), rebounds (7.7), and steals (2.4) per game. Lauryn McIver is the Falcons' leader in assists (5.6) and blocks (0.9) per game.
In 23 games this season, the Falcons are averaging 77.5 points, 39.8 rebounds, and 17.3 assists per game. Friends is shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, 33.8 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 65.7 percent from the free throw line.
Friends is ranked 26th in the NAIA in points (1,782), 31st in points per game (77.5), 23rd in field goals made per game (29.6), seven in field goal percentage (.471), 20th in 3-pt field goal percentage (.338), 38th in defensive rebounds per game (28.8), 25th in assists per game (17.3), 20th in opponent blocks per game (1.9), and 41st in offensive efficiency (0.996).
On the road this season, Friends is averaging 78.8 points per game and shooting 47.6 percent from the floor, 35.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 62.5 percent from the free throw line.
