OKLAHOMA CITY – MACU Women's Basketball came away victorious in the conference home opener 69-55 against crosstown rivals Oklahoma City on Saturday afternoon inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 69, Oklahoma City 55
  • Mid-America Christian: (7-1, 2-0 SAC)
  • Oklahoma City: (3-4, 0-3 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Caitlynn Jordan: 18 Points, 6-12 FG, 3-6 3FG, 11 Reb, 1 Blk
• Sincere Roberts: 13 Points, 5-10 FG, 2-3 3FG, 6 Reb, 3 Stl, 1 Ast
• Mia Smith: 13 Points, 6-9 FG, 5 Ast, 2 Reb, 1 Blk, 1 Stl
• Monique Carter: 10 Points, 4-4 FG, 2-2 3FG, 7 Ast, 5 Reb, 2 Stl

GAME SUMMARY

• First Quarter
  • An electric first quarter opened with a pair of three pointers from OCU on its first two possessions. The Evangels matched the intensity with a triple in response by Caitlynn Jordan and aggressive drives to the rim by Sincere Roberts and Mia Smith to take an early 11-9 lead into the first media timeout.
  • The Stars continued to light it up from deep, but the Evangels kept with OCU on the offensive side by scoring in the paint. Smith continued her efficient first quarter with a free throw for nine first quarter points. Followed by Jordan finishing at the basket for nine first quarter points as well, and a 22-19 MACU advantage.
• Second Quarter
  • The second quarter started much slower than the first with the first points not coming until two minutes into the quarter. Jordan made consecutive free throws for an early five-point Evangel lead.
  • However, the Stars came storming back with six consecutive points to snatch the lead right back.
  • Sincere Roberts canned a clutch three on the Evangels' final possession of the first half to go back up two, but the Stars responded with a triple at the buzzer from Lia Sekhniashvili to give the Stars a narrow one-point 32-31 margin at the break.
• Third Quarter
  • MACU started the third on a quick 7-0 run just three minutes into the quarter. Roberts cashed another three in transition, while Taliah lee finished a pair in the paint.
  • Mia Smith drove to the basket and finished for her first points since the first quarter to take a 42-35 lead into the media timeout, MACU's largest lead thus far.
  • Jordan was left open in the corner and converted for three on the final offensive possession of the quarter, as the Evangels took a 50-42 lead into the last.
• Fourth Quarter
  • The Stars continued to fight with five consecutive points out of the final intermission, to trim the lead down to just three, two minutes into the quarter. However, out of the MACU timeout, the smooth jumper of Mia Smith converted for two more, followed by another three from Jordan to nullify the quick OCU run.
  • Roberts electrified the Gaulke with a tough and-one finish through the contact. While Monique Carter splashed in consecutive corner threes to put the Evangels up by 13 at 66-53 with two minutes remaining.
  • Lee added another two points inside the paint to close the deal with a 69-55 win over Oklahoma City as the Evangels outscored the Stars 38-23 in the second half.

GAME NOTES

• MACU finished an efficient 28-54 (51.9%) from the field, 8-20 (40.0%) from three, and converted five of seven from the free throw line. After lighting up the first quarter, OCU struggled finishing 18-57 (31.6%) from the field, 30.8% from behind the arc at 8-26, and 11-16 (68.8%) from the charity stripe.  
• MACU committed 20 turnovers to OCU's 16 but converted four more points off turnovers than the Stars managed. The Evangels have dominated the offensive glass this season, but just two offensive rebounds resulting in no second chance points for the first time in this young MACU season.
• Junior forward Caitlynn Jordan led the Evangels offensively with 18 points shooting 6-12 from the field, 3-6 from behind the arc, and 3-4 from the free throw line. Jordan snagged 11 boards for her third double-double in eight games.
• Three other Evangels finished in double-digit scoring; Sincere Roberts added 13 points off 5-10 and two threes, Mia Smith had 13 points from an efficient 6-9 from the field, while Monique Carter contributed 10 with a perfect 4-4 from the field and a pair of triples.
• Jordan led the Evangels with 11 rebounds, followed by Taliah Lee, and Roberts with six apiece.  
• Carter dished out a team-high seven assists, matching her season-high that came in the season opener in the road loss to Friends. Mia Smith gifted five dimes of her own.
• MACU won its fourth consecutive game over OCU, but the Stars still hold a commanding all-time record at 33-7.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian have its biggest opponent of the season up next with No. 10 Langston on Tuesday evening, Dec. 2, as the Evangels will face the Lions at a neutral site venue in Shawnee, Okla. at the FireLake Arena.