The Lowdown: St. Gregory's University @ Mid-America Christian University
Time: Saturday (Feb. 7) at 1 p.m.
Location: Gaulke Activity Center, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Live Video:
Live Stats:
The Dish on the Lady Evangels: For the second time this season, the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels gave the No. 2-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Oklahoma City University Stars a battle for more than a half, but once again the Stars pulled away in the second half for an 84-66 win. The Lady Evangels remain tied for fourth place in the Sooner Athletic Conference at 6-5 in the league with a 13-7 overall record.
Ashlee Ferguson is leading the Lady Evangels and is second in the SAC with 16.0 points per game and is also tops in threes (58). Ferguson's three-point total is good for third in the league. Alexia Kelley is averaging a double-double of 12.1 points and 10.5 rebounds, with her rebounds and blocks per game (2.20 bpg) both tops in the SAC. Alliyah Spatafora has dished out a team-high 99 assists on the season, while Lindsey Mann is also scoring in double-figures over her seven appearances this season with 12.0 ppg and is shooting 42.5 percent (17-of-40) from the perimeter.
The Dish on the Cavaliers: The St. Gregory's University Cavaliers have lost eight straight games and currently stand at 2-18 overall and 1-10 in the SAC.
Stacy Lee and Denisha Lundy are each averaging 13.9 points per game to pace the Cavaliers in scoring, with Lee also recording a team-best 78 assists on the season. Kalie Lucas is scoring 10.1 and Kaylyn Dickerson has a team-high 7.2 rebounds per game for SGU.
The Series: The Lady Evangels have gotten the best of the Cavaliers since joining the NAIA, winning the first eight meetings between the two schools and 11 of 13 overall after winning 75-62 at SGU in this season's first outing (12/6/14.
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 31-21 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.
Josiah White is in his second season at the helm of St. Gregory's University. Prior to arriving at SGU, White served three years as an assistant coach Northern Oklahoma College in Enid, Okla. White helped Northern to a record of 83-19 from 2010-13.
Up Next: The Lady Evangels will hit the road for five of their last six games of the season, beginning next Thursday evening (Feb. 12) at John Brown University. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in Siloam Springs, Ark.
