SHAWNEE, OKLA. – MACU Women's Basketball won its biggest game of the season in a 56-52 statement win against No. 11 Langston in a gritty defensive battle on Tuesday evening inside the FireLake Arena.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 56, Langston 52
  • Mid-America Christian: (8-1, 3-0 SAC)
  • No. 11 Langston: (8-1, 3-1 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Caitlynn Jordan: 13 Points, 3-7 FG, 6-6 FT, 11 Reb, 1 Ast
• Sincere Roberts: 13 Points, 6-16 FG, 6 Reb, 2 Blk, 1 Ast
• Talayah Thomas: 11 Points, 2-4 3FG, 5-6 FT, 3 Reb, 1 Stl

GAME SUMMARY

• First Quarter
  • MACU and Langston flexed its defensive muscles early in a low scoring opening few minutes as Caitlynn Jordan drilled a triple to tie it up at eights at the first media timeout.
  • The Evangels burst into an 8-0 scoring run to close the quarter from free throws converted by Talayah Thomas and Mia Smith. Followed by Sincere Roberts knocking down the midrange to close the quarter and give MACU a 16-8 advantage.
• Second Quarter
  • The Lions responded with a three of their own on the opening possession of the quarter. However, Thomas kept the Evangels' advantage with her first triple on the other end.
  • Langston crawled to within one halfway through the quarter, and Thomas wants again responded with a triple for eight early points, and a four-point MACU lead into the media timeout.
  • However, the Evangels' offense cooled off significantly to close out the half, while Langston converted for five points in the final minute to take a slight 28-26 lead at the halftime break.
• Third Quarter
  • Much like the first quarter, a physical defensive battle made scoring a premium with just two buckets in the opening five minutes.
  • Roberts continued her dominant performance with five consecutive MACU points as the Evangels snatched the lead right back at 37-32. A couple free throws and another bucket in the paint for Roberts closed a 17-7 scoring margin in the third quarter as MACU led 42-35 with 10 minutes left.
• Fourth Quarter
  • The Lions cut the Evangel lead to three just four minutes into the quarter as MACU struggled to convert on the offensive side, and shots started to fall for Langston.
  • The Evangels continued to earn their points from the free throw line, while the Lions started to heat up from behind the arc. The pair of triples came with two minutes remaining, and the lead at 48-46 for MACU.
  • Langston cashed in a third triple in three minutes with 27 seconds remaining to tie it up at 52. However, MACU ran the perfect baseline inbound play to find Jordan who laid in the runner in the paint for the go-ahead bucket with eight seconds remaining. Roberts came away with a huge block on the defensive possession, and Jordan buried a pair of free throws to put the game to rest as MACU get a statement 56-52 win.

GAME NOTES

• It was a scrappy and defensive battle as both teams struggled shooting the ball. MACU shot 16-52 (30.8%) from the field, 3-22 (13.6%) from behind the arc, and converted 21 of 25 (84%) free throws. Langston finished 16-63 (25.4%) from the field, 8-25 (32%) from three, and 12-16 (75%) from the free throw line.
• Both teams committed an influx of turnovers as MACU had 20, and Langston 18. They split 13 apiece from points off turnovers. However, the Evangels dominated the paint by a 24-12-point margin.
• Caitlynn Jordan and Sincere Roberts led the Evangels offensively with 13 points apiece. Jordan shot 3-7 from the field and 6-6 from the charity stripe. Roberts was 6-16 FG. Talayah Thomas had 11 points off a pair of triples and 5 of 6 from free throws.
• Jordan snagged 11 rebounds for record her second consecutive double-double, and third of the season. Roberts had six boards, three of them on the offensive side.
• Mia Smith had a team high three assists. While the Evangels as a team had six steals, and three blocks.
• Mid-America Christian won its eighth consecutive game, holding the longest active winning streak in the Sooner Athletic Conference.
• MACU lost all three matchups against Langston a season ago. However, the statement win extends the Evangels' all-time record over the Lions to 11-7 and snapping a three-game losing skid.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian returns home on Thursday evening to host Central Christian tipping off at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.