The Lowdown: St. Gregory's University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: 3 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video
Live Stats
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels gave the No. 18-ranked John Brown University Golden Eagles all they wanted for a half, but JBU flexed their muscle and outscored the Lady Evangels 55-35 in the second to win 92-66 Thursday evening (Jan. 23) and send the Lady Evangels to their fifth straight loss. Ashlee Ferguson led the Lady Evangels with 20 points and Tierra Brown added 11. Kelsie Dutton had a team-high seven boards for MACU. The Lady Evangels are now 10-8 overall and 4-5 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ashlee Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 14.4 points per game, while Adaugo Osuala is scoring 11.4 ppg and is second on the team with 32 assists on the season despite missing the past seven games. Alliyah Spatafora has recorded a team-high 34 assists this year. Lauren McKinney is scoring 11.0 ppg and leads the Lady Evangels with 8.4 rebounds per game. Cheyenne Been is also averaging double-figure scoring at 10.8 ppg.
As a team, the Lady Evangels rank sixth in the NAIA in threes made (154) and eighth in threes per game (8.6).
The Dish on the Cavaliers: The St. Gregory's University Cavaliers enter today's contest at 2-13 overall and 1-8 in the SAC and have lost seven of their past eight games.
Stacy Lee leads the Cavaliers with 11.9 points per game and 72 assists this season, followed by Kylee Tatum at 11.3 ppg. Tori Huff is scoring 11.2 ppg and Danielle Patillo has a team-high 4.5 rebounds per game.
Kylee Tatum ranks 10th in the NAIA in free-throw percentage (.851).
The Series: The Lady Evangels have gotten the best of the Cavaliers since joining the NAIA, winning the first eight meetings between the two schools and nine of 12 overall. The two teams split the season series last year, with each team winning at home.
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.
Josiah White is in his first season at the helm of St. Gregory's University. Prior to arriving at SGU, White served three years as an assistant coach Northern Oklahoma College in Enid, Okla. White helped Northern to a record of 83-19 from 2010-13.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will be at USAO next Thursday evening (Jan. 30) at 6 p.m. in Chickasha, Okla.
