Bethany, Okla. - Behind a career-best 29 points and 14 rebounds from Nicole Wittman, the Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels gave the No. 20-ranked Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm all they wanted but fell just short in a 72-65 overtime setback in Sooner Athletic Conference action Saturday evening (Jan. 15) at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Okla.

With six seconds remaining in regulation, the Lady Evangels trailed 57-55 when Michelle Hardimon penetrated inside and scored to send it to overtime.

Wittman scored five points early in the extra period, including a three that gave MACU a 62-61 lead.

Abbey Marra then hit two straight buckets as the Crimson Storm scored seven straight for a 68-62 lead. 

Marcy Robinson refused to let the Lady Evangels go quietly and hit a three to make it a one possession game with 15 seconds remaining. 

But four straight free throws helped SNU stave off the Lady Evangels' upset bid.

Wittman carried over her stellar play from the first half into the second with two free throws and a score in the paint that extended a four-point lead at the break to a 40-32 advantage. 

SNU charged back with an 11-2 run to jump back in front with 13:52 remaining.

The game continued to go back-and-forth as a layup from Tranecia Smith put the Lady Evangels back on top 51-50 at the 4:53 mark. 

It was 53-53 when Oumoul Thiam hit a jumper that put the Crimson Storm ahead with 2:23 left. 

Logan Martin scored the first four points of the game for the Crimson Storm, but the Lady Evangels grabbed an early lead on back-to-back treys from Hardimon and Egidija Busaite. 

The Crimson Storm then grabbed a nine-point lead behind 11 points from Thiam that fueled a 15-4 spurt. 

MACU got right back into it as Wittman got things going with a three, a three-point play and a pair of free throws that helped the Lady Evangels take a 24-23 lead at the 11:10 mark of the opening half.

The Lady Evangels fell behind 29-26 when Wittman again answered the call with six straight points for a three-point lead with 5:36 left in the first half.

With the score even at 32-32, a jumper in transition by Smith and two free throws from Brittany Woodard gave the Lady Evangels a 36-32 lead heading into the locker room over the 20^th ranked Crimson Storm.

Wittman was 10-of-20 overall from the field and 7-of-9 at the charity stripe. Brittany Johnson scored 13 and Hardimon and Robinson each dished out four assists. 

Thiam led the Crimson Storm (13-4, 7-2 SAC) with 18 points, with Marra also reaching double-figures with 14 along with a team-high 12 boards. Martin scored 17 and recorded a game-high nine assists. 

The Lady Evangels (8-8, 4-6 SAC) were out-rebounded 45-38 overall but held a 19-10 edge on the offensive glass. 

MACU also scored 24 points off of 27 forced turnovers.

The Lady Evangels will next begin a two-game homestand with a matchup against St. Gregory's on Thursday evening (Jan. 20) at 6 p.m. at the Gaulke Activity Center.