OKLAHOMA CITY - Hanna Moeller and the Mid-America Christian University women's basketball team have gotten used to cutting down nets in her three seasons at the helm of the program. On Thursday night, they added a third net to their collection, as MACU won the NCCAA Central Regional title for the second time in three seasons.
Forthe third straight year, MACU (22-9) met Southwestern Christian University (11-19) in the regional championship game, and for the second time, MACU emerged victorious, taking the win 87-70 to claim the regional championship and punch their ticket to the NCCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship in Winona Lake, Indiana next week.
MACU opened the game on an 8-2 run, but SCU kept things close. The Eagles used a 10-5 run to close the gap to one point twice, but MACU scored the final five points of the first quarter and with 10 minutes in the books, MACU led 20-14. The Evangels opened the second period on a 10-0 run to take a 30-14 lead with 8:13 to go in the half. An 8-0 SCU run from SCU trimmed the MACU lead to 32-24, and after MACU scored seven straight points to take a 39-24 lead before SCU trimmed the margin to 44-34 at the half.
SCU quickly closed the gap to six points early in the third quarter, but a 12-2 MACU run pushed the lead back to 16 at 57-41 with 5:20 to go in the quarter. SCU answered with an 11-2 run that got the Eagles within seven at 59-52, and headed into the final frame, MACU led 64-54. SCU made one more run to start the fourth frame, cutting the MACU lead to 70-64, but MACU finished off the game on a 17-6 run to take the 87-70 victory.
Alexis Shannon led the Evangels with 23 points and nine rebounds, and she was joined in double figures by Shaylan Coleman (18) and Nevada Denton (13). Coleman dished out five assists in the game, she and Jennah Coffman each had two blocked shots, and Coleman picked up three steals.
MACU made 33 of 58 (56.9%) shots in the game, including nine of 15 (60%) from long distance. At the foul line, MACU was 12-for-16 (75%) in the game.
The win sends MACU on to the NCCAA national championship for the third straight year, and they will attempt to defend their National title from a year ago. The bracket is slated to be announced this weekend, and it will start on Wednesday at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana.
