Women’s Lacrosse Faces Future RMAC Opponent Rockhurst

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Oklahoma Baptist (3-1) at Rockhurst (1-2) Saturday, March 5, 2 p.m. Kansas City, Mo. (Bourke Field) Live Stats Game Notes (pdf)

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Hot off a rivalry win over Missouri Baptist on Friday afternoon, the Women's Lacrosse team gets their first look at a future Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe when the team travels to Kansas City, Missouri, to take on Rockhurst on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.
 
Oklahoma Baptist (3-1) continues to roll through the 2016 schedule, averaging 14.5 goals per game. The team is led offensively by Alexis Martin and Hannah Dowell who each have 15 goals. Paige Morrison is not far behind with 14 goals. The squad has improved its ball movement of late, finding each other for more open looks this season as the team averages 5.0 assist per game, led by Morrison, Martin and Allison Ingrim with four each,
 
For a second straight game, the defense has not allowed an opponent to reach double figures in scoring, and has not allowed opposing offenses to eclipse the 10-goal mark in three of its four games so far in 2016. Strong on the ground, Oklahoma Baptist has scooped up 105 ground balls this season, paced by Ingrim with 17. Sabrina Attaway hasn't seen much action in goal of late, but has managed to keep her goals-against average to a low of 7.46.
 
Rockhurst (1-2) has fallen to two quality NCAA Division II opponents in Alabama-Huntsville and McKendree by a combined score of 34-22. The Hawks' lone win of the season was a 19-1 drubbing of Ottawa, a shared opponent with the Lady Bison. Hannah Weisbrod has done the heavy lifting for RU this season, leading the team with 10 goals, the only player on the team to break the 10-point barrier. A solid ground ball team, Maddie Scheipeter leads the team with 10 as the Hawks hold a +12 margin in the category. Of Rockhurst's three goalies who have seen action this season, Kathy Perkins has featured the most in 2016 and holds a 12.67 goals-against average in 90 minutes of action, and also boats a .472 save percentage.
 
The Lady Bison will have a week off before traveling to Colorado for spring break. Up first for Oklahoma Baptist in the Rocky Mountain State is Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction. First draw is scheduled for 12 p.m.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Scouting the Hawks
Current Record: 1-2
- Rockhurst enters the game with a 1-2 record. A 19-1 win over Ottawa is bookended by losses to Alabama-Huntsville and McKendree
- The Hawks are averaging 13.67 goals per game, and are converting at a .427 clip. Hannah Weisbrod is RU's top scorer with 10 goals in her account, while five other Hawks have at least four goals this season
- Defensively, Rockhurst has allowed 11.67 goals per game. Against Division II opponents the Hawks have given up an average of 17 goals per contest. Opposing shooters hold a .438 shooting percentage
- Three different goalies have seen time in the cage this year for the Hawks. Each has started one game, and all have played over 40 minutes. Kathy Perkins leads the way with the trio's only win, and has a goals-against average of 12.67 to go along with a .472 save percentage
- Clears have been a struggle for Rockhurst, holding just a .646 clearing percentage. The Hawks' redefend has been slightly better, with opponents clearing the all at just a .744 rate
 
The Coaches
Oklahoma Baptist: Jordan Beech
- Jordan Beech took over as the fourth coach in program history in December 2015
- Beech played collegiately for Oklahoma State and the University of Oklahoma in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association, featuring as a defensive midfielder
- Developing the sport from the grassroots levels, helped to form the first boys' high school program in Oklahoma in 2006
- Prior to taking over at OBU, Beech made coaching stops at Deer Creek Lacrosse Club and Edmond Lacrosse Club and holds a Level 2 coaching certificate through US Lacrosse
 
Rockhurst: Molly McCourt
- Molly McCourt took over as the Rockhurst women's lacrosse coach in 2015, guiding the Hawks to a 6-7 record in her first season
- A coach with international experience, McCourt has served as the head coach of the Wales Women's National Team since 2011, guiding the squad to a fifth-place finish at the 2013 World Cup. She has also coached with the German National Women's Team, as well as the U19 German Women's National Team
- McCourt graduated from Maryland in 2006, where she was an academic all-conference defender for the Terrapins
 
Rivalry Triumph over Missouri Baptist
-  Oklahoma Baptist spoiled rival Missouri Baptist's home opener by upending the host 12-7
- The Lady Bison jumped out to a 9-4 lead at halftime. OBU preserved the margin of victory as both teams scored three goals in the second half
- Alexis Martin led the way with six points off of three goals and three assists, while Hannah Dowell (4g) and Allison Ingrim (3g, 1a) each recorded four points
- OBU held a 24-21 advantage in ground balls, led by Ingrim with four. Dowell, Morrison and Savannah Tompkins each had three
- Sabrina Attaway picked up her third win of the season while recording two saves
 
Potent Offense
- For the first time in her career, Anderson has scored in back-to-back games for the Lady Bison after finding the back of the net against both Ottawa and Missouri Baptist
- Dowell and Martin are tied for the team lead with 15 goals apiece, while Morrison is just one off their team-leading pace with 14 goals
- Four different Lady Bison have at least 10 points, led by Martin with 19. Dowell (14), Ingrim (10) and Morrison (18) are the other three
- Ungerer scored her first goal since February 28, 2015 in the win over Missouri Baptist
- OBU already nearly has half of its assists total (48) from last year in just four games. Ingrim, Martin and Morrison are all tied for the team lead with four
- Oklahoma Baptist is generating 33.5 shots per game. Of those, 23.8 are on goal. The Lady Bison are converting those shots into goals at a.433 clip
 
Defense Holds Steady
- The Lady Bison defense has held three of its opponents to seven goals or fewer so far this season, and opponents are averaging just 7.5 goals per game
- Missouri Baptist's seven goals are the third-fewest allowed by an Oklahoma Baptist defense while playing on the road
- OBU continues to scoop up ground balls at a high rate, averaging 32.75 per game. Ingrim leads the way with 4.25, while Haley Ballard and Tompkins have combined for 22 to lead all defenders
- The defense jump starts the offense from the clear, and OBU has excelled in the early part of the season by clearing at a .828 rate. Opponents have clearly successfully on less than half their attempts (.435)
- A suffocating defensive approach to the game has caused opponents to commit 26.25 turnovers per game. More than 12 of those turnovers have been forced by an OBU player in each game
- Among defenders, Tompkins and Suzie Wisham lead the squad with 1.25 caused turnovers per game
- Attaway is just two wins shy of breaking the 20-win barrier for her career