WINFIELD, Kan.– Southwestern College will look to grab its first Conference win of the season when the Lady Builders travel to face Ottawa University on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. in Ottawa.
Southwestern enters the matchup at 4-4 overall and 0-3 in KCAC play, but has been strong away from home with a 4-2 road record. Ottawa, one of the league's early-season frontrunners, is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in conference.
The Lady Builders are averaging 63.1 points per game while shooting 39.3 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from 3-point range. Southwestern has relied on a balanced starting group, led by senior forward Macey Pond, who is averaging 17.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Pond leads the team in scoring and rebounding and has been a double-double threat each night with 72 total boards through eight games.
Fellow starter Kennedy Ford gives Southwestern another presence on the glass, averaging 9.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Inside, post player Allyson Frank has been efficient, shooting 59.3 percent from the field and adding 4.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
On the perimeter, the Lady Builders will again look to guard Martha De La Rosa and sharpshooter Breanna Goad. De La Rosa is averaging 9.9 points per game and leads the team with 16 made 3-pointers while shooting 38.1 percent from beyond the arc. Goad is close behind at 9.4 points per contest and has hit 15 threes on 34.1 percent shooting from long range.
Southwestern is scoring 63.1 points per game while allowing 67.0. The Lady Builders are being narrowly outshot from the field, 39.3 percent to 39.6, and outrebounded 36.5 to 34.3, but have shown the ability to get to the free-throw line, averaging 9.9 made free throws per game.
Ottawa presents one of the toughest offensive tests the Lady Builders have seen this season. The Braves are averaging 83.1 points per game and outscoring opponents by 22.3 points. Ottawa is shooting 43.4 percent from the floor and 30.8 percent from 3-point range, while pulling down 42.1 rebounds per game and forcing 19.6 turnovers per contest.
Guard Kaelynn Duncan leads the Braves' attack in conference play with 14.0 points per game, shooting 60.7 percent from the field and 46.2 percent from 3-point range in KCAC action. Wing Dominique Schutte adds 13.7 points per game in league contests and has hit 10 threes over three conference outings.
Overall, Ottawa features a deep and balanced rotation. McKinley Kruger averages 11.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game and shoots 89.5 percent at the free-throw line. Post player Ashlynn Arnsman is averaging 11.0 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Aaliyah Brown adds 5.7 rebounds per game. Nine Braves players average at least 5.0 points per outing.
Conference-only numbers show Ottawa scoring 78.0 points per game while allowing 73.3, with a plus-5.0 rebounding margin and 8.3 made 3-pointers per contest. Southwestern, meanwhile, will look to slow the pace and limit turnovers after averaging 15.1 giveaways per game to Ottawa's 11.9.
Wednesday's game also renews a long-running series between the two programs. Southwestern holds a 24-18 edge all-time, but Ottawa has won the last four meetings, including an 84-78 double-overtime win in Winfield on Dec. 4, 2024. The Lady Builders' last victory over the Braves came on Feb. 19, 2022, a 70-64 win at Stewart Field House.
To come away with a road conference win, Southwestern will need strong production from Pond and De La Rosa, control of the defensive glass from Ford and Frank, and efficient perimeter play from Goad and the backcourt group. Limiting Ottawa's second-chance points and 3-point attempts will be key as the Lady Builders look to snap the Braves' streak in the series and earn an early-season KCAC statement on the road.
