The Lowdown: (RV) Mid-America Christian University @ Wayland Baptist University
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Plainview, Texas
Live Video and Audio
Live Stats
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: After the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels battled hard in the first half and trailed only 35-29, the No. 7-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University Lady Bison exploded offensively in the second half, outscoring the Lady Evangels 61-35 after halftime to turn a close game into a rout and win 96-64 on Tuesday evening (Jan. 7). Earlier in the day, the Lady Evangels were the top vote-getter and on the cusp of their first-ever NAIA Top 25 national ranking in school history.
The Lady Evangels are 10-4 overall and are in third in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a 4-1 league mark.
Ferguson is leading the 10-4 Lady Evangels with 13.6 points per game, while Adaugo Osuala is scoring 11.4 ppg and has dished out a team-best 32 assists on the season despite missing the past three games. McKinney is scoring 10.2 ppg and leads the Lady Evangels with 8.7 rebounds per game. Been is also averaging double-figure scoring at 10.1 ppg.
As a team, the Lady Evangels rank in the NAIA in threes made (119) and 10th in threes game (8.5) and turnover margin (5.4).
The Dish on the Flying Queens: The Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens are 4-8 overall and 1-2 in the SAC after losing four of their past five games.
Angeleigh Davis is pacing the Flying Queens with 14.7 ppg, followed by Laura Castillo at 11.2 ppg along with a team-high 50 assists. Christie Mooney is also scoring 11.2 ppg. lesha Greer leads WBU in rebounding at 9.3 rpg.
The Flying Queens are one of the better rebounding teams in the country, ranking sixth in the NAIA in total rebounds per game (47.8 rpg) and offensive boards per game (17.8).
The Series: The Lady Evangels dropped both meetings against Wayland Baptist last year and have lost five straight to the Flying Queens overall. MACU is 2-10 vs. WBU since joining the NAIA and are 1-5 in Plainview, Texas.
The Coaches:
Marcus Moeller is in his first season as the head women's basketball coach after serving as assistant coach for the past two years. He has also served as the Assistant Athletic Director at MACU for the past year. Moeller has gotten off to a good start, recently guiding the Lady Evangels to an eight-game winning streak, their longest since joining the NAIA.
Prior to arriving at MACU, Moeller after served three years as an assistant coach at Missouri Southern State University under the tutorship of head coach Maryann Mitts. In those three seasons, Moeller helped MSSU compile an overall combined record of 51-33 and qualify for three MIAA conference tournaments.
He assisted in all areas of the MSSU program including recruiting, scouting, practice and gameday preparations, and academic success.
Before coaching at MSSU, Moeller had a successful playing career at Ozark Christian College in Joplin where he played in all 147 games over a four-year span. Moeller, a two-year captain, averaged eight points and five assists while helping lead the Ambassadors to a 24-16 record his senior season.
Moeller earned a three-year Associate's degree in Christian Education from Ozark Christian College in 2008 and a BS in General Studies from Missouri Southern in 2010.
Plainview, Texas native Alesha Robertson is in her first season at Wayland Baptist University. Robertson played collegiately at Texas Tech University and recently coached for Hoop55 and Lubbock Christian High School. Robertson guided LCHS to the TAPPS 3A state championship in 2013.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will return to the friendly confines of the Gaulke Activity Center against Southwestern Christian University next Thursday evening (Jan. 16) at 6 p.m.
