WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The Mid-America Christian University women's basketball team opened their NCCAA national title defense on Wednesday night, rounding out the first day of play at the National Championship. The Evangels dominated the game, particularly off the bench, on second chances, and off turnovers, and they cruised to their third straight NCCAA semifinal.

MACU (23-9) dominated on the glass, out-rebounding Yellowstone Christian College (12-7) 52-30 including 23 offensive boards, and the Evangels cruised to the 92-66 win.

YCC opened the scoring just four seconds into the game, but a pair of buckets from Shaylan Coleman ignited a 10-0 run to give MACU a lead they did not relinquish. The Evangels, though, were not able to shake the Centurions in the opening frame, as YCC twice closed to within four before MACU took a 17-12 lead into the second frame.

MACU led off the second quarter with an 11-2 spurt that helped MACU claim a 28-14 advantage. Again, though YCC whittled away at the margin, this time cutting their deficit to nine points at 33-24 with 4:20 to play, but MACU answered with an 11-4 run to close out the half, and at the break, MACU led 44-28.

Alexis Shannon scored with 8:23 to play in the third period to push the MACU lead to 20 for the first time. As the quarter wore on, the lead stabilized, reaching 24 on several occasions, and after 30 minutes of play, MACU led 70-47. A 3-pointer from Jaidan Alley late in the fourth quarter gave MACU their largest lead of the night at 90-60 on their way to the 92-66 victory.

Shannon tied for the game high with 19 points, and she posted her 10th double-double of the year with 10 boards. Nevada Denton scored 14 points in the game, and Coleman added 10. Shannon notched five steals for MACU, and Alley had four assists.

MACU connected on 35 of 73 (47.9%) shots in the game, though they struggled from deep, making only seven of 25 (28%) 3-point attempts. MACU also scuffled at the foul line, making 15 of 24 (62.5%) charity tosses. MACU held the advantage in all five enhanced scoring breakdowns as well: 8-5 on the fast break, 32-12 off turnovers, 46-22 in the paint, 23-6 on second chances, and 47-8 off the bench.

MACU advances to the semifinal for the third year in a row. The Evangels will meet the host of the tournament, the Grace College Lancers (17-15). The Lancers dispatched with Bluefield College (Va.) 88-52 to earn a date with MACU. The semifinal will take place on Thursday night at 7:45 p.m. CDT.