The Lowdown: Mid-America Christian University @ John Brown University
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Siloam Springs, Ark.
Live Video
Live Stats
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels gave the then No. 3-ranked Oklahoma City University Stars all they wanted, trailing by only two with 5:34 remaining before falling 79-69 last Saturday (Jan. 18). The loss is the Lady Evangels' fourth straight and puts them at 10-7 overall and 4-4 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ashlee Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 14.1 points per game, while Adaugo Osuala is scoring 11.4 ppg and is tied for the team-lead with 32 assists on the season despite missing the past six games. Alliyah Spatafora has also recorded 32 assists this year. Lauren McKinney is scoring 11.3 ppg and leads the Lady Evangels with 8.8 rebounds per game. Cheyenne Been is also averaging double-figure scoring at 11.0 ppg.
As a team, the Lady Evangels rank seventh in the NAIA in threes made (145) and eighth in threes per game (8.5).
The Dish on the Golden Eagles: The No. 18-ranked John Brown University Golden Eagles have won two straight immediately a two-game losing streak preceded a nine-game winning streak. JBU is 13-3 overall and 5-2 in the SAC.
Sierra Shipley leads JBU in scoring at 15.2 points per game, followed by Brooke Barker at 10.9 ppg and Kortni Barenberg at 10.6 ppg. Morgan Ankrom has a team-high 5.7 rebounds for the Golden Eagles, while Kami Garrison has dished out a team-best 47 assists.
JBU is currently second in the NAIA in both threes per game (9.8) and scoring defense (51.8 ppg), while ranking fourth in total threes (156), sixth in field-goal percentage defense (.341) and seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.18).
Individually, Garrison is third in the NAIA in assist/turnover ratio (3.61) and seventh in three-point field-goal percentage (.454).
The Series: The Lady Evangels are 3-9 against the Golden Eagles since becoming an NAIA school. MACU split with JBU last season, as each school won on the road for the second consecutive season.
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, guiding the Lady Evangels to an eight-game winning streak earlier this season, 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.
Jeff Soderquist is in his eighth season as head coach of the John Brown University Women's Basketball program. Soderquist is the winningest coach in program history and has guided the Golden Eagles to three appearances in the NAIA National Tournament.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will return home to host St. Gregory's University on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 25) at 3 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
