OKLAHOMA CITY – Coming off a big win over UNT Dallas and the program's first ever victory against Oklahoma City on Thursday, Mid-America Christian women's basketball head coach Hannah Moeller was selected as the WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Week on Tuesday.
Currently, the MACU women's basketball team is off to one of its best starts in program history as the Evangels currently hold a 14-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play. The Evangels' previous best start through 16 games came during the 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons when MACU went 12-4 through the first half of those respective campaigns.
In the program's first ever meeting against SAC newcomer UNT Dallas, the Evangels battled back from a 17-12 first quarter deficit, outscoring the Trailblazers 87-57 over the final three periods, including a 39-point third quarter to come away with a 99-74 victory inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Jan. 3.
While the offensive shined against UNT Dallas, it was the defense that stepped up in a big way in a 71-53 road victory at Oklahoma City on Jan. 6. Once again, the Evangels were able to overcome a slow start in the first period. After trailing 18-16, MACU outscored the Stars 55-35 over the final 30 minutes to secure a dominant win.
The Evangels were sharp coming out of the locker room to start the second half, outscoring OCU 25-15 to hold a 14-point cushion heading into the fourth quarter. The win was a pivotal one for MACU as it was the program's first ever win against the powerhouse Stars program after OCU took the first 30 games in the series since the program joined the NAIA in 2007.
MACU rounded out the week by receiving a forfeit victory from John Brown, boosting the Evangels into a tie for third in the SAC standings with Texas Wesleyan (7-2), just a game back of Wayland Baptist (8-1) and a half-game back of Langston (8-2).
It is the second time in Moeller's career that she has been selected as the WHoopDirt.Com NAIA Coach of the Week. The sixth-year head coach was also selected on Jan. 7, 2020 after leading the Evangels to a 64-61 win over Kansas Wesleyan on Dec. 31, 2019, an 85-48 victory over Bacone on Jan. 2, 2020 and a 73-71 win over John Brown on Jan. 4, 2020.
By also receiving the weekly honor, Moeller is now an eligible nominee for the WHoopDirt.com NAIA Coach of the Year, which will be selected at the end of the 2021-22 season.
