The Lowdown: John Brown University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: Thursday (Jan. 8) 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 are now 8-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Sooner Athletic Conference after splitting a pair of games at the Arizona Christian University Firestorm Classic II (Dec. 30-31). The Lady Evangels lost 83-60 to Arizona Christian but rebounded to rout Northern New Mexico College 100-65 behind 37 points from Ashlee Ferguson. Ferguson's point total and field goals made (13) in the victory are second only to her own 40 points and 15 field goals last season at St. Gregory's University (2/22/14). She also tied her own mark with nine three-pointers made that she set last year at SGU. Her big game earned her the SAC, OklahomaSports.Net and National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Player of the Week honors.
Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels with 16.5 points per game and is also tops in steals (23) and threes (32). Alexia Kelley is averaging a double-double of 13.0 points and 11.1 rebounds, while Alliyah Spatafora has dished out a team-high 60 assists on the season.
The Dish on the Golden Eagles: The John Brown University Golden Eagles come in with a record of 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the SAC, but have won their last two games on the heels of a three-game losing streak.
Brooke Barker has a team-high 11.2 ppg this season for JBU, followed by Sofia Mendoza's 10.5 ppg. Morgan Ankrom leads the Golden Eagles with 6.9 rpg and Eliana Fernandez has recorded a team-best 54 assists this season.
The Series: The Lady Evangels are 4-11 against the Golden Eagles since becoming an NAIA school after losing two out of the three meetings last year. MACU bested JBU 60-55 here on Feb. 20, but fell 92-66 on Jan. 23 in Siloam Springs, Ark and then 72-60 in the quarterfinals of the SAC Tournament.
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 26-17 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.
Jeff Soderquist is in his 18th season as head coach of the John Brown University women's basketball program. Soderquist is the winningest coach in program history and has guided the Golden Eagles to four appearances in the NAIA National Tournament, including a Fab Four finish last year. Soderquist also led JBU to a program-best 28 overall wins and 15 conference wins last season.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will face a stern test at No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 10) at 3 p.m.
