It was the kind of performance Ryan Showman had been looking for from his Kansas Wesleyan women's team.
The Coyotes took control early on, led by as many as 32 points twice in the third quarter and cruised to a 67-55 Kansas Conference victory Saturday night inside Mabee Arena.
KWU improved to 12-10, 10-6 in the KCAC while McPherson fell to 6-16 and 2-14.
In Showman the Coyotes played as well as they have all season during the first 28 minutes of the game.
"When we're defending like we did and sharing the ball like we were we're a really tough team to beat," he said. "I think tonight we played that way. We want to build some momentum in February and this is a great start."
KWU was 23 of 54 shooting (42.6 percent) and McPherson 11 of 45 (24.4 percent) through the first three quarters of the game.
Daijane Adams, who didn't score in the Coyotes' loss to Evangel on Wednesday, led the offense with 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting that included 4 of 7 from beyond the 3-point arc. She also grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
"It makes it easier when your coaches and teammates have your back and have confidence in you," Adams said.
LaMyah Ricks added 12 points and three assists while Alexis Dixon and Odessa Ozuna scored nine apiece and Hampton Williams and Angel Lee each had eight. KWU shot 38.2 percent for the game (26 of 68) and won the rebounding battle 43-40.
Madelyn Hankins had 11 points and Mikaela Boyd 10 for McPherson which shot 37.3 percent (22 of 59).
The Coyotes seized control late in the first quarter. Tied at 7 they scored the last nine points and led 16-7. After McPherson opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer Wesleyan outscored the Bulldogs 20-5 the rest of the way and took a 36-15 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The onslaught continued in the third quarter as KWU led 51-19 at the 4:33 mark and 56-24 with 2:04 left.
Showman said his team is progressing in a positive direction.
"We've had injuries, people out, people in and trying to find something," he said. "It took a little while and I think you're starting to see some of that cohesiveness playing off each other. It's a team that wants to win and do whatever it takes."
Adams agrees.
"We're very close to the end of the season and we don't have that many (games) left," she said. "I think we're finally learning to play together and play as a team and that's helped us for a full 40 minutes."
While pleased Showman says there is room of improvement.
"I don't think we're playing our best basketball; I think we're close," he said. "That's exciting and that gets me fired up because I think our best is yet to come and now is when you want to be peaking."
KWU plays rival Bethany (12-10, 10-6 KCAC) at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Lindsborg. The Swedes lost to Friends 75-66 Saturday in Wichita. The Coyotes close out the week with a game against Ottawa at 5 p.m. Saturday in Mabee Arena.
