2/23/2012
By BOB DAVIDSON Salina Journal
The Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes know they face a steep, uphill struggle in their efforts to defend the Kansas Conference tournament title they won a year.

Wednesday night they served notice they have no intentions of bowing out quietly.

Fueled by a dominating rebounding effort and the inspired second-half offensive play of Christian Cassity, Wesleyan rolled over McPherson 65-40 in a quarterfinal game of the KCAC women's tournament at Mabee Arena.

The third-seeded Coyotes (18-12) advance to the semifinals and a game Saturday against second-seeded Southwestern, starting at 2 p.m. in Winfield. The No. 21-ranked Moundbuilders routed Bethel 82-62 Wednesday in Winfield.

Wesleyan outrebounded McPherson 55-32, including 23 offensive rebounds that led to 20 second-chance points. Alecia Smith snagged 16 while Stephanie Frost, who was named first-team all-KCAC earlier in the day, had 13 to go along with 12 points, three steals and two blocks. Cassity finished with a team-best 17 points -- 15 in the second half -- and almost single-handedly snuffed out McPherson's comeback attempts.

"(Rebounding) was the No. 1 point going into the game, that we limit them to one shot," Wesleyan coach Gordon Reimer said. "The ladies just did an awesome rebounding the basketball."

"Rebounding really was the key," Cassity said. "Steph and Alicia had great games. At halftime they were getting on the McPherson girls about rebounding and we just came out and crushed them."

Offensively, Wesleyan made just 2 of its 16 3-point attempts, but found success closer to the basket, particularly Cassity, who was 7 of 12 from the field -- most of them underneath the basket or on drives to the goal.

Cassity had two points at halftime on 1 of 3 shooting but was a different player the second half a chat with Reimer.

"Coach told me to play stronger or I wasn't going to play," she said with a laugh. "So I started playing stronger."

Wesleyan led 35-22 at halftime, but McPherson (14-15) opened the second half on a roll. The Bulldogs got within seven twice, the second time 41-34 with 14:54 left.

Shelby Babcock scored on an off-balance running-one hander near the basket. Cassity, a sophomore forward from Springtown, Texas, took over from there, scoring the next seven points and 15 of KWU's next 21. She was 6 of 9 from the floor the second half and also had four rebounds and two blocks.

Point guard Rhys Pihl continued her strong play of late with 11 points and no turnovers.

Wesleyan cranked it up at the defensive end as well. McPherson didn't score for more than six minutes, missing seven shots and committing two turnovers.

The Bulldogs shot just 27.3 percent from the field (15 of 55) and missed all 12 of their 3-point attempts. Elice Frey and Madison Chambers led McPherson with eight points each.

"Defensively, we did a good job and we scored some points, too, so I'm really happy with this game," Reimer said.

The Coyotes and Southwestern split their two games during the regular season, each winning at home.

"That's going to be a really tough game," Reimer said.

* Sports editor Bob Davidson can be reached at 822-1404, or by e-mail at bdavidson@salina.com

---

Discuss This Story:

---