OKLAHOMA CITY - For three quarters of their game on Tuesday night against the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, the Mid-America Christian University women's basketball team out-played the Drovers. Unfortunately for MACU, the Evangels dug a hole too deep early on.
MACU (9-3, 3-3 SAC) fell into a 14-point hole early, and despite their best efforts, the Evangels were unable to overcome the slow start, falling to USAO (7-7, 2-4 SAC) 74-63.
After USAO opened the scoring, Alexis Shannon scored to pull MACU even at 2-2 with 9:33 to play in the opening stanza. For the next four minutes, however, MACU's offense sputtered, and USAO took advantage. The Drovers put together a 12-0 run to take a 14-2 lead, and MACU found themselves playing catch-up for the rest of the period. MACU trailed by as many as 16 in the opening quarter, and after 10 minutes of play, MACU trailed 28-14.
The second quarter was MACU's best of the night. The Evangels held USAO to seven points in the period, and they battled their way back into the game. A free throw from Jesica Fairley with 4:52 left in the half cut the margin to single digits, where it remained for the rest of the half. Fairley connected from long distance with 2:52 left in the quarter to get MACU back to within four at 32-28, and at the half, MACU trailed 35-30.
Nevada Denton opened the second half scoring with a pair of made free throws to get MACU within three in the opening 15 seconds of the third frame, but that was as close as MACU was able to get. USAO slowed the pace, and they began to stretch their lead out. The Drovers led 57-43 after three quarters, and while MACU did outscore USAO in the fourth, the Drovers took the win 74-63.
Shannon led the Evangels with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Fairley added 15 tallies in the game. MACU made 20 of 61 (32.8%) shots in the game, and 4 of 18 (22.2%) from long range. At the foul line, MACU connected on 19 of 26 (73.1%) charity tosses.
MACU will finish their 3-game homestand on Thursday when MACU welcomes the Bacone College Warriors (0-9, 0-6 SAC) to the Gaulke Activity Center. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
