MCPHERSON, Kan. – The Mid-America Christian women's basketball team completely shut down Central Christian on the offensive end as the Evangels came away with a historically great defensive performance in a 60-26 road win on Thursday night.
 
TOP PERFORMERS

• Lexi Hernandez – 16 Points, 5-10 3FG, 1-2 FT, 4 Reb
• Presley Payahsape – 11 Points, 4-10 FG, 2-2 FT, 3 Reb
• Kaylee Hurst – 8 Points, 3-5 FG, 2-4 3FG

GAME SUMMARY

• First Quarter
  • Mid-America Christian opened the contest with a trio of Lexi Hernandez three-point bombs to climb out to an early 9-0 lead just 3:16 into the contest.
  • After CCCK's Cheyanne Marshall finally got the Tigers on the board, Sydney Wycoff knocked down her first three of the contest before an Abby Bird jumper pushed the MACU advantage out to double-figures at 14-3 with 4:59 remaining.
  • A Meya Gibson three with 3:19 left knocked it back down to signle-digits, but the Evangels finished the period with six unanswered behind a McKenzi Lamer three, an Aneli Thomsen jumper and a Hernandez free throw to make it 20-6.
• Second Quarter
  • The Evangels got off to a stellar start to the second, going on an eight unanswered surge to bring it to a 28-6 game with 7:27 left.
  • Both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm over the final seven minutes as Central Christian scored the only points on an Eryn Turner bucket with 4:38 on the clock, sending the Evangels into the half with the 28-8 lead.
• Third Quarter
  • MACU once again opened the half with three straight three-pointers as Hernandez knocked down a pair to go along with a Wycoff triple to increase the Evangels' edge to 37-8 with 4:41 remaining.
  • The Evangels managed to keep the Tigers from making a single field goal the entire quarter as the only points MACU allowed were a pair of Josie Warren free throws with 15 seconds left to hold a 39-10 cushion heading into the fourth period.
• Fourth Quarter
  • After giving up the first bucket of the final quarter, Kaylee Hurst knocked down a corner three on the ensuing possession to extend the Evangels lead back to 30 at 42-12 with 9:31 to go.
  • The Evangels never led by less than 27 the rest of the way. MACU took its largest lead of the contest following a 9-1 run capped off on a Presley Payahsape jumper with 1:40 to go to make it a 60-24 game.
  • Central Christian's Destiny Broussard capped the scoring at 60-26 on a score with 1:19 left.

GAME NOTES

• While Mid-America Christian struggled on the offensive end, shooting just 21-for-54 (38.9 percent) from the floor, the Evangels were effective from the three-point arc, knocking down 11-of-28 (39.3 percent).
• The 26 points allowed by the Evangels are the third-fewest MACU has allowed in a single game since the program joined the NAIA in 2007. The last time the Evangels gave up fewer than 30 in a game came in a 98-21 victory over Manhattan Christian (Kan.) on Oct. 26, 2018. It was also the fewest points MACU has held an NAIA affiliated school to since picking up a 70-37 win over Bethany (Kan.) on Nov. 11, 2011.
• Defensively, MACU held Central Christian to a season-low 9-for-52 (17.3 percent) from the floor and 3-of-26 (11.5 percent) from the three-point arc. It was the lowest shooting percentage the Evangels defense has held an opponent to this season with the previous best being a 20.8 percent clip in a 103-39 win over Bacone (Okla.) on Oct. 27.
• Senior guard Lexi Hernandez was one of just two Evangels to crack into double-figures with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the three-point arc to go with four boards.
• Presley Payahsape was the only other Evangel to break double-digits with 11 points on 4-for-10 shooting with three rebounds.
• The Evangels outrebounded the Tigers 47-31 as Kyleigh Leverich finished with a team-high six boards.
• Abby Bird led the team with three assists to go with six points and five boards.
• By picking up the win, the Evangels have now won 15 straight games against Central Christian and have won six straight in McPherson, Kan. MACU now holds a 15-2 record overall and an 8-2 mark in Sooner Athletic Conference play while Central Christian fell to 1-16 overall and 0-10 against SAC competition.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian will be at home on Saturday as the Evangels will host Langston for a 2 p.m. tip-off inside the Gaulke Activity Center.