Ft. Worth, Texas -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels moved into fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference with one game left by defeating the Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams 58-56 tonight (Feb. 26) in Ft. Worth, Texas. The Lady Evangels are now tied with the Lady Rams at 9-8 in the league, but would hold the tiebreaker due to sweeping the season series.
The Lady Evangels were down by as many as seven in the second half and trailed 54-48 with 5:55 left when they took over defensively.
MACU tightened its grip and finished the game on an 8-2 run, holding the Lady Rams to only one field-goal the rest of the way.
A layup by Shakayla Love started the spurt and a three-point play from Ashlee Ferguson cut the deficit to one with 3:35 left.
Two free throws by Felicia Foster then gave the Lady Evangels the lead at the 2:04 mark before Katelynn Threats scored off a putback for the Lady Rams' final field goal of the game that put them up 56-55.
But Alliyah Spatafora nailed a three with 1:22 left that proved to be the game-winner for the Lady Evangels.
The Lady Evangels forced turnovers on the next two Lady Ram possessions and a missed jumper by Cheyenne Swoopes as time expired sealed the victory for MACU.
The Lady Rams started the first half by scoring the first nine points of the game before five straight from Ferguson and a three by Foster pulled the Lady Evangels within 9-8.
TWU later stretched the lead back to seven before settling for a 29-25 at the break.
Ferguson led the Lady Evangels (16-10, 9-8 SAC) with 16 points, followed by 14 points and three steals from Foster. Alexia Kelley secured a team-high nine rebounds and Spatafora dished out a game-high five assists.
Amy Easley paced the Lady Rams (18-11, 9-8 SAC) with 18 points, while Threats recorded a double-double of 15 points and a whopping 20 boards.
The Lady Evangels will look to nail down the fourth spot in the SAC with a tough matchup at No. 20-ranked Wayland Baptist University on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 28). Tip-off will be at 1 p.m. in Plainview, Texas. The Lady Evangels bested the Flying Queens 84-66 at home back on Jan. 15.
