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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.