WINFIELD, Kan. — Southwestern College's women's basketball team will have little time to reset before returning to Conference play on Wednesday, when the Lady Builders visit Bethel College at 5 p.m. in Thresher Gym.
Southwestern (4-16, 0-14) comes in off an 80-50 road loss at Avila on Jan. 26, continuing a conference schedule that has tested a young roster. The Lady Builders are averaging 60.3 points per game while allowing 77.5, and they have been out-rebounded by 7.5 boards per game (32.3 to 39.8). Turnovers have also been a key factor, with Southwestern committing 16.3 per game.
Bethel (13-7, 10-4) has been one of the league's steadiest teams and enters the midweek matchup after a 103-37 win at McPherson on Jan. 25. The Threshers average 76.9 points per game and have held opponents to 70.6, pairing that scoring with a plus-3.2 turnover margin in conference play.
Wednesday marks the second meeting of the season between the teams. Bethel won 76-51 in Winfield on Nov. 19, building a 45-26 halftime lead and never trailing. Kendall Locke scored 27 points for the Threshers in that matchup, while Karlee Locke and Emersyn Eischen added 14 apiece. Southwestern was led by Macey Pond's 12 points and Kennedy Ford's 11.
For Southwestern, Pond has been the top scorer on the season at 15.8 points per game while also leading the team on the glass at 9.1 rebounds per game. The Lady Builders have three other double-figure scoring options in Breanna Goad (11.0), Ford (10.9) and Martha De La Rosa (9.8). Goad has been the team's most consistent perimeter threat, leading Southwestern with 49 made 3-pointers as the Lady Builders average 7.9 triples per game.
Bethel's attack is led by Kendall Locke at 18.9 points per game, with Madyson McKinzie (14.1) and Karlee Locke (14.0) also averaging double figures. The Threshers have been effective creating offense for others, averaging 17.6 assists per game overall, and they have been active defensively with 10.6 steals and 4.6 blocks per game.
History has tilted toward Bethel in recent years. Southwestern still holds a 24-20 edge in the series dating to 2006, but the Lady Builders have dropped 11 straight to the Threshers and are 0-10 in the last 10 meetings, including the Nov. 19 loss that opened this season's series.
