The Lowdown: Texas Wesleyan 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 thumped the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers 86-60 to win their second straight game Thursday evening (Jan. 30) in Chickasha, Okla. After Kelsie Dutton scored to put the Lady Evangels up 34-33 at the break, April Williams and Cheyenne Been took over with nine points each as the Lady Evangels scored the first 20 points over the first six minutes of the second half to take command.
The victory improves the Lady Evangels to 12-8 overall and 6-5 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ashlee Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 14.5 points per game, while Adaugo Osuala is scoring 11.4 ppg and is third on the team with 32 assists despite missing the past nine games. Lauren McKinney is scoring 10.8 ppg and leads the Lady Evangels with 8.6 rebounds per game. Cheyenne Been is also averaging double-figure scoring at 10.5 ppg and leads the team with 38 assists.
As a team, the Lady Evangels rank fourth in the NAIA in both threes made (176) and seventh in threes per game (8.8).
The Dish on the Lady Rams: The Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams dipped below .500 at 9-10 overall and 5-10 in the SAC following a pair of losses to No. 5-ranked Oklahoma Baptist. TWU fell 69-57 at OBU on Monday night (Jan. 27) and then gave the fifth-ranked Lady Bison all they wanted before losing 58-56 at home Thursday night (Jan. 30).
Takoia Larry leads the Lady Rams in both points (14.6 ppg) and rebounds (7.9 rpg), with Kashay Barnes ranking second in scoring at 12.4 ppg. Onyesonam Nolisa is scoring 11.0 ppg and ToiEasha Cooper is averaging 10.0 ppg. Amy Moody has a team-high 74 assists on the season for TWU.
The Series: The Lady Evangels and Lady Rams have split the two meetings since MACU became an NAIA school in 2007 and TWU joined the SAC this season. The Lady Rams bested the Lady Evangels 63-49 in the season opener of the 2010-11 season, but MACU defeated the Lady Rams 76-67 in the season's first meeting this year back on Dec. 4.
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.
Bill Franey is in his third season as head of the Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams. Franey came to TWU in 2009 as an assistant coach and was named interim head coach in 2011. He was then named head coach in October of the same year. Franey has over 35 years of coaching experience at the high school and college levels.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will welcome in No. 5-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University on Tuesday evening (Feb. 4) at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
