OKLAHOMA CITY -- With the NCAA Men's Basketball showdown featuring the No. 2-ranked University of Oklahoma Sooners and No. 1-ranked University of Kansas Jayhawks rightfully garnering much of the nation's headlines since Monday night (Jan. 4), the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels and No. 19-ranked John Brown University Golden Eagles did their best to match that epic outcome as the Lady Evangels somehow grinded out a 98-90 double-overtime win tonight (Jan. 7) over JBU in a thrilling Sooner Athletic Conference showdown.
All it took was 31 points and 10 rebounds from Kelli Tolar, a single-game record (as an NAIA school) 20 rebounds and 17 points from D'Shala Culberson and 21 points, eight boards and six assists from reigning NAIA, SAC and OklahomaSports.Net Player of the Week Sarai Rodriguez. The Lady Evangels also needed 13 points and another eight rebounds from Jamie Lamb to go along with 11 points and a career-high tying seven assists by Lindsey Mann.
In what seemed like an eternity by the end of the night, the Lady Evangels once upon a time led by 26 points in the first half behind 24 points from Tolar.
But JBU rallied back from that deficit and then some, clawing within 13 at the break before finally taking their first lead since 2-0 at 63-62 with 6:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Lady Evangels answered back on a bucket from Culberson and a three-point play by Lamb to jump back on top by four at 67-63.
Following five straight points from the Golden Eagles that put the Lady Evangels down one, Culberson scored ahead of a three by Rodriguez that again gave MACU a four-point lead with 2:55 left.
After six straight points from Baily Cameron put JBU in front by two, a clutch jumper from Rodriguez tied the score and sent the game into the first overtime period.
Down by five in the first overtime session and still trailing by four with only 1:40 left, the Lady Evangels wouldn't be deterred and found a way to force another extra session on a driving layup by Rodriguez and then a critical jumper from Tolar with one second remaining that made it 84-84.
Once in the second overtime period, the Lady Evangels finally seized control when threes by Rodriguez and Mann along with scores from Tolar and Culberson fueled a 10-0 run that put MACU in front by seven at the 2:56 mark.
Kodee Powell brought JBU within four with her second trey of the second overtime session, but a basket in the paint by Culberson and then two free throws by Mann closed out the dramatic win for the Lady Evangels.
Cameron paced seven Golden Eagles in double-figures with 16 points along with a team-high 15 rebounds.
MACU outrebounded JBU 62-47 overall, including 49-36 on the defensive glass.
The Lady Evangels are now 2-0 in the SAC and will look to stay unbeaten in league play by hosting Wayland Baptist University Saturday afternoon (Jan. 9) at 1 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
