OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Women's basketball team was overcome a red-hot start by Mission in the MACU Classic inside the Gaulke Activity Center on Saturday afternoon as the Evangels battled back from a double-digit first quarter deficit to pull out a hard-fought 95-88 victory.   
  
TOP PERFORMERS 

• Shy Christopher – 25 Points, 9-15 FG, 7-9 FT, 6 Reb, 2 Assists
• Alexis Borgstadt – 18 Points, 7-14 FG, 4-5 FT, 6 Reb
• Talayah Thomas – 15 Points, 5-12 FG, 2-4 3FG, 4 Reb, 4 Assists 
• Kylee Scheer – 13 Points, 5-9 FG, 6 Reb, 2 Assists
• Harley Harbour – 6 Points, 14 Rebounds 

GAME SUMMARY 

• First Quarter 
  • It was a back-and-forth game roughly four minutes into the matchup with Syncere Harrod tying it up at 7-7 on a layup received on a bounce pass by Kylee Scheer.  
  • A pair of layups by Cassidy Hambelton kicked off and closed out a 10-1 Patriots run that gave them an early 17-8 advantage with 4:39 to play. 
  • Harrod was able to knock down a set of free throws to bring the Evangels within five at 17-12, but Mission was able to outscore MACU 14-8 in the last three minutes to close out the quarter with a 31-20 advantage with most of its damage being done at the free throw line, going 8-for-8 during the final stretch.  

• Second Quarter 
  • After a Josie Sullivan pull-up jumper gave the Patriots their largest lead of the contest on the opening possession at 33-20.
  • MACU was able to gain some ground on the Patriots as Shy Christopher gathered her own miss and convert the put-back to once again to cap off a 13-4 run, cutting Mission's lead to 37-32 with 6:26 to go.  
  • Patriots guard Ireland Jones was able to connect on a midrange jumper to push the MU lead back up to double-digits 42-32 for Mission with 5:12 remaining in the half. 
  • The Evangels closed out the half strong as a layup to the right side of the basket by Aniya Smith capped off a seven-unanswered surge, giving MACU the slight edge 47-46 at the 1:17 mark.. 
  • Patriots Brooklyn Luna recaptured the lead on a pair of layups and Alexis Borgstadt spin move attack to the rack closed out the half with Mission heading into the break with a slight 50-49 edge.  

• Third Quarter 
  • After trading buckets for the first four minutes, Scheer was able to swish a trey from the left elbow on an assist from Talayah Thomas to provide MACU a 62-58 lead with 6:06 to go. 
  • The Evangels were able take a six-point lead on the midrange jumper from Scheer, however that was quickly changed as Jones banged a three-pointer to close the gap back to 68-65 with 4:14 left.  
  • With 3:15 to go Thomas knocked down a three-ball from the top of the arc to give an eight-point advantage to MACU while Mia Smith closed out the 7-0 on the hoop and the harm off the drive to give MACU its first double-digit advantage at 75-65 with 1:56 to go. 
  • Mia Smith was also able to make a huge play on the defensive side taking a charge to give Patriots leading scorer Cassidy Hambelton her fourth personal foul at the 1:34 mark. 
  • MACU was able to close out the quarter on a midrange jumper off the backboard at the buzzer from Scheer to make it 77-67 Evangels going into the fourth.   

• Fourth Quarter 
  • After going scoreless for the first three minutes of the quarter, MACU was able get things going on a successfully converted and-one from Borgstadt on the left-handed lay-in to bring MACU edge back up to 80-71.  
  • With 4:16 left on the game clock, Christopher's backdoor cut and score to the basket was found on a bounce pass from Thomas to give MACU a commanding 87-74 lead.  
  • Up 93-85 with 54 seconds remaining, Mia Smith was able to successfully convert a pair of free throws to once again retake a double-digit lead at 95-85. 
  • The Patriots were able to put up a last-minute fight on a three-ball from Luna from the top of the arc to make it 95-88 and then force a MACU turnover on the shot clock violation, but the late rally would ultimately not be enough against the Evangels' insurmountable lead.

GAME NOTES 

• Both teams put up great shooting performances with Mission shooting for a slightly higher percentage at 35-for-69 (50.7 percent) compared to Mid-America Christian's 32-for-66 (48.5 percent). The big difference in the game was the Evangels' ability to get to the free throw line, going 28-for-40 (70 percent) compared to MU's 12-for-14 (85.7 percent). 
• The Evangels saw four players reach double-digits in scoring for the third time in four games this season with Shy Christopher (25), Alexis Borgstadt (18), Talayah Thomas (15) and Kylee Scheer (13).  
• MACU continued to have a dominate weekend on the boards outrebounding Mission 47-28, with Harley Harbour being a great part as she had a career-high 14 rebounds.
• The Patriots foul trouble proved costly as they had three players foul out, including their leading scorer Cassidy Hambelton, who finished with 17 points and eight assists.  
• Shy Christopher led the charge for the Evangels as she put up a game-high 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting with six rebounds as well.  
• Alexis Borgstadt continued her solid weekend tying a career-high with 18 points, tying her best performance in a 110-56 win against Central Christian on Jan. 23, 2023. 
• Talayah Thomas picked up her second straight 15-plus point game with 18 today while also turning infour rebounds and four assists.  
• MACU moves to 10-0 all-time against Mission dating back to 2004, the seven-point victory was the closest matchup for both teams dating back to the Evangels 65-50 win on Jan. 15, 2005.  

UP NEXT 

• The Evangels will wrap up their five-game home stand on Thursday, Nov. 14 against UNT Dallas with a 6 p.m. tip-off in the Gaulke Activity Center.