The Lowdown: (RV) Wayland Baptist University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: Thursday (Jan. 15) at 6 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 played the defending NAIA National Champion and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University Stars close in the first half, leading by seven before the Stars used an 8-1 run to jump on top and then took a 37-36 lead at the break. OCU then pulled away in the second half to an 80-66 win. The Lady Evangels are now 9-4 on the season and 2-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 16.6 points per game and is also tops in threes (38). Alexia Kelley is averaging a double-double of 12.5 points and 10.9 rebounds, while Alliyah Spatafora has dished out a team-high 70 assists and also leads with 28 steals on the season.
The Dish on the Flying Queens: The Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens are riding a three-game winning streak to rebound from a three-game losing skid and improve to 7-6 overall and 3-1 in the SAC.
Stephanie Afunugo leads five Flying Queens in double-figure scoring with 14.8 ppg. Laura Castillo is second in scoring at 13.5 ppg and has team-highs in both assists (47) and threes (32). Iesha Greer is scoring 12.0 ppg along with a team-best 8.7 rebounds per game.
The Series: The Lady Evangels have lost seven straight to the Flying Queens overall and are 2-12 vs. WBU since joining the NAIA. The Lady Evangels are 1-6 against the Flying Queens at home.
The Coaches:
Marcus Moeller is in his second season as the head women's basketball coach after serving as assistant coach for the past two seasons. He has also served as the Assistant Athletic Director at MACU for the past two years. Moeller has a solid 27-18 record to this point at the helm.
In his first year guiding the program, Moeller guided the Lady Evangels to new heights, leading MACU its most wins (18) since joining the NAIA and also a program-best 11 victories in the rugged Sooner Athletic Conference.
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.
He recently married Hannah Owen, former MACU assistant basketball coach during the 2010-11 season.
Alesha Robertson-Ellis is in her second season at Wayland Baptist University. The Plainview, Texas native was named the SAC Co-Coach of the Year in her first year after leading the Flying Queens to the NAIA National Tournament for just the second time in a decade. 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 play at Southwestern Christian University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 17) at 3 p.m. in Bethany, Okla.
