The Lowdown: (RV) Texas Wesleyan University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: Thursday (Jan. 22) at 6 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/macu.portal
Live Stats: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels went 1-1 this past week, beating Wayland Baptist University 84-66 before falling 85-82 at Southwestern Christian University last Saturday (Jan. 17). The Lady Evangels are now 10-5 overall and 3-3 in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 16.5 points per game and is also tops in threes (45). Alexia Kelley is averaging a double-double of 13.2 points and 11.2 rebounds, while Alliyah Spatafora has dished out a team-high 77 assists on the season.
The Dish on the Lady Rams: The Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams have won four straight games and seven of their last eight and are receiving votes in this week's NAIA Top 25 poll. TWU is 13-5 overall and 4-2 in the SAC.
Stacey Darnley is leading the Lady Rams in both points (14.6 ppg) and assists (68), while Katelynn Threats is second in scoring (14.3 ppg) along with 10.1 rebounds per game. Kashyla Fields and Onyesonam Nolisa are each scoring 10.9 ppg, with Nolisa pulling down a team-best 10.3 rpg.
The Series: The Lady Evangels have won two of the three meetings with the Lady Rams since joining the NAIA, including a season-sweep last year in TWU's first season 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 28-19 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.
Bill Franey is in his fourth 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 host No. 8-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24) at 3 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
