OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian University women's basketball team had an opportunity to take a season series sweep over the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma at the Gaulke Activity Center. The game started well, but in the end, MACU came up short.
MACU (17-8, 11-6 SAC) got a 26-point effort from Chelseah Savage, but USAO (22-4, 14-3 SAC) outscored MACU 40-22 in the paint and 20-7 on second chances, as the Drovers took the win 77-59.
MACU opened the game on an 11-2 run with Savage hitting the first two 3-pointers of her night. USAO, though, closed the gap as the first quarter wore down. The Drovers began to whittle away, and they closed the gap to four at the end of the quarter on a basket from Rebecca Worthy, and after 10 minutes, MACU led 19-15.
Savage connected from long distance to start the second frame, but USAO immediately responded with a 9-0 run to take their first lead of the game at 24-22. Nevada Denton knocked in a mid-range jumper to tie the game at 24 with 6:12 to play in the half, but from there the Drovers slowly took control. USAO led by as many as six in the quarter, and though MACU twice cut the margin to a single point, they were unable to get the game tied, and at the half, USAO led 36-33.
The Drovers scored the first six points of the second half, and their run extended to 14-1 as MACU turned the ball over six times in the first half of the third quarter. Savage made another 3-pointer to cut the margin to nine at 51-42, but USAO pulled away to a 15-point edge in the final minute of the frame before taking a 60-47 lead to the final frame. The Evangels were unable to get closer than 10 in the final period, and USAO pulled away to the 77-59 victory.
Savage was the only Lady Evangel in double-figures, pouring in 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting including 5-of-11 from long range. Denton and Ossyana Ozoani each added seven points as well. MACU made 20-of-54 (37%) attempts from the floor, and 7-of-21 (33.3%) 3-point tries. At the foul line, MACU was 12-for-18 (66.7%).
The Lady Evangels will be back in action at home on Thursday night when they welcome the NAIA #6 Wayland Baptist University Flying Queens (20-4, 13-3 SAC) for a critical game in the Sooner Athletic Conference race. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
