OKLAHOMA CITY -- Alliyah Spatafora narrowly missed a triple-double but hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds to lift the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels to a thrilling 80-79 victory over the Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams tonight (Jan. 22) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
Spatafora hit a driving layup to give the Lady Evangels a one-point lead with seven seconds remaining after the Lady Rams had scored eight straight to erase a seven-point MACU edge.
The Lady Evangels then forced a turnover as time expired to hang on for the victory.
MACU led by five at the break but the Lady Rams came out of the locker room with six straight points to take a one-point lead of 43-42.
A three by Lindsey Mann then capped a 7-2 spurt for the Lady Evangels that put MACU back in front 49-45 with 16:02 left.
After a score from Shakayla Love pushed the lead to eight, Carneisha Sims scored eight points to fuel a 15-5 burst that gave TWU a 64-62 lead with 7:19 left.
It was 69-69 when Felicia Foster finished a 9-2 run with a three that made it 78-71 at the 2:12 mark.
The two squads exchanged a pair of runs early in the first half, with the Lady Rams going on a 10-2 spurt to take a 19-14 lead at the 10:46 mark of the first half.
Foster then hit a three to ignite a 9-2 run that MACU back on top by two.
Following a bucket by Sims that tied tied the score, the Lady Evangels pulled out to a nine-point lead as Ashlee Ferguson nailed a trey to cap a 11-2 push to make it 34-25 with 4:03 left in the half.
The Lady Evangels (11-5, 4-3 SAC) stretched the lead to 10 on three occasions before the Lady Rams scored the last five of the half to come within 42-37 at the break.
Spatafora's line was 13 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, with the rebound total representing a career-high. Mann continued her strong play with 17 points and six boards. Foster and Ashlee Ferguson each scored 15 points.
Katelynn Threats recorded game-highs of 21 points and 16 boards to lead the Lady Rams (13-6, 4-3 SAC) and Sims added 17. Stacey Darnley scored 16 along with six assists and six steals.
The Lady Evangels will next host a big game with No. 8-ranked Oklahoma Baptist University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 24) at 3 p.m.
