SALINA, Kan. - To win tough games on the road, your best players have to play big in big moments. For the Mid-America Christian University women's basketball team, Alexis Shannon gave them that on Saturday afternoon.
Shannon posted her second double-double of the season, and she scored 13 of her 19 points in the second half, to lead MACU (8-2) to a 74-72 win at Kansas Wesleyan University (10-5) that snapped the Coyotes' 7-game winning streak.
MACU scored six of the first eight points of the afternoon, but KWU rallied to tie the game at 8-8 with 6:14 to play in the first quarter. The Evangels built their lead back to four points a couple minutes later, but the Coyotes closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to claim a 23-18 lead after 10 minutes of play. KWU continued that run early in the second frame, scoring 10 of the first 14 points of the period to take a 33-22 lead with 6:35 left in the half.
MACU quickly answered with an 8-1 run to trim the gap to 34-30, and moments later, a steal and a fast break bucket from Avery Gregory got MACU within three at 35-32. KWU scored six of the next eight points to push their lead back to seven, but a 9-0 MACU spurt to close the half gave the Evangels a 43-41 lead at intermission.
The third quarter was a defensive struggle, and the score remained close throughout. The Coyotes tied the score quickly out of the break, and a traditional 3-point play from Kayla Kivinski gave KWU a 46-45 lead with 2:36 gone in the period, but Shannon and Jennah Coffman combined for six straight points to give MACU the 51-46 lead with 5:31 remaining in the period. KWU slowly whittled away at the margin, and the 'Yotes drew even at 54 with 2:24 to play, before edgnig in front with under two minutes left on a free throw from Courtney Heinen. Jessica Fairley scored just 11 seconds after KWU had taken the lead to reclaim the advantage for MACU, but after a pair of Nevada Denton free throws gave MACU a 58-56 advantage, Kivinski swished a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give KWU a 59-58 lead heading to the fourth.
Shannon scored six points in the fourth frame, each bucket helping MACU keep the game within reach, but as the clock began to wind down in the period, KWU held a 72-68 lead. Gregory connected on a pair of free throws after a turnover, and just 16 seconds later, after a steal from Shaylan Coleman, Nevada Denton connected on a layup to tie the game at 72 with 2:10 remaining. MACU forced three KWU turnovers in the final two minutes, and they forced the Coyotes into missing their final three shots. Meanwhile, single free throws from Coleman twice proved to be enough as MACU took the win 74-72.
Shannon finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Evangels in both categories. Denton scored 11; Coffman contributed nine; and Gregory, Fairley, Coleman, and Darby Price each tallied seven in the game. Sydney Wycoff had four assists, and Denton picked up four steals in the contest as well.
MACU made 28 of 56 (50%) of their shots in the game, including 4-of-8 (50%) from beyond the arc. The Evangels struggled by percentage from the foul line, making only 14 of 26 (53.8%) charity attempts, but it was enough in the end. MACU's big edge came in the paint, where they out-scored KWU 40-30, and the Evangels also out-scored the Coyotes 23-17 off turnovers, and a 21-20 advantage off the bench.
MACU will be back in Sooner Athletic Conference play on Thursday night, January 3, when they head across town to take on the NAIA #10 Oklahoma City University Stars (10-1, 4-0 SAC). Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
