The Lowdown: Mid-America Christian University @ Southwestern Christian University
Time: Saturday (Jan. 17) @ 3 p.m. in Bethany, Okla.
Location: Pickens-Springer Gymnasium, Bethany, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels improved to 10-4 overall and 3-2 in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a convincing 84-66 victory over the Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens last night (Jan. 15). Alexia Kelley recorded a monster double-double with career-bests of 22 points and 16 rebounds, with Lindsey Mann igniting the offense with 19 points and five assists in her MACU debut. Alliyah Spatafora scored 17 points and also had five dimes.
Ashlee Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 16.2 points per game and is also tops in threes (39). Alexia Kelley is averaging a double-double of 13.1 points and 11.3 rebounds, while Alliyah Spatafora has dished out a team-high 75 assists and also leads with 28 steals on the season.
The Dish on the Lady Eagles: After starting the season 4-4, the Southwestern Christian University Lady Eagles have hit a rough patch, losing eight of their past nine games to fall to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in the SAC.
Adrianna White is leading the Lady Eagles in both points (15.7 ppg) and rebounds (7.3 rpg) this season. Brittany Hamilton has recorded a team-high 32 assists for SCU.
The Series: The Lady Evangels have split the four meetings with SCU since joining the NAIA. The Lady Evangels won the first two games, but the Lady Eagles swept the season series last season in their first year in the SAC.
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 28-18 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.
Darrick Matthews is in his first season leading the Southwestern Christian University women's basketball program. Matthews served as an assistant coach under current SCU men's basketball coach Quinn Woolridge the past two seasons. Before coming to SCU, Matthews was an assistant for one season at Sul Ross State (Texas).
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will return home and host Texas Wesleyan University next Thursday evening (Jan. 22) at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
