OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Women's Basketball team hosts Nelson Lions for an important top of the Sooner Athletic Conference table clash on Thursday evening tipping off at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center. The Evangels turn around quickly and hit the road South to face the Rams of Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tipoff in Fort Worth, Texas.

SEASON REPORT

• Record: 12-3 (7-2 SAC)
• Last Game: Won vs Oklahoma Panhandle State – 65-49 – Jan. 10, 2025 – Gaulke Activity Center  
• Stat Leaders:
  • Points: Caitlynn Jordan (202, 13.5 ppg), Taliah Lee (170, 11.3 ppg)
  • FG Percentage (%, M-A, Min 3 FGM/G): Monique Carter (48.8, 40-82), Taliah Lee (46.3, 69-149)
  • 3FG Percentage (%, M-A, Min 1 3FGM/M): Aniya Smith (42.3, 11-26), Caitlynn Jordan (37.5, 27-72)
  • FT Percentage (%, M-A, Min 1 FTM/G): Monique Carter (89.5, 17-19), Aniya Smith (84.0, 21-25)
  • Rebounds: Caitlynn Jordan (113, 7.5 rpg), Taliah Lee (97, 6.5 rpg)
  • Assists: Mia Smith (55, 3.7 apg), Monique Carter (49, 3.3 apg)
  • Steals: Taliah Lee (32, 2.1 spg) Sincere Roberts (31, 2.1 spg)
  • Blocks: Taliah Lee (22, 1.5 bpg), Caitlynn Jordan (16, 1.1 bpg)
• Team Notes:
  • Mid-America Christian returned to the win column to start 2026 with commanding wins against Wayland Baptist and Oklahoma Panhandle State to improve to 7-2 in conference play. The Evangels sit in tied fourth, while remaining a half game back from second, and one game back from the top spot.   
  • Junior forward Caitlynn Jordan leads the Evangels in scoring and rebounding averaging 13.5 ppg and 7.5 rebounds. Her rebounding mark sits her top three in the SAC standings in that category.
  • Junior forward Taliah Lee recorded a career week with a statline of 14 points, and a career-high 13 boards and five blocks against Wayland Baptist. Lee backed it up two days later with 10 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, five assists, and three blocks to earn her NAIA Defensive Player of the Week honors. Taliah is the first Evangel to win NAIA Defensive Player of the Week and first to receive an NAIA weekly honor since 2015.
  • Mia Smith is the leading distributor for the Evangels with 55 total assists, a mark that sees her top three in the conference.  
  • MACU continues to show offensive power ranking fourth in points per game averaging 72.3. However, the Evangels set the pace with a conference high 34% 3pt percentage, while maintaining top three in FG percentage at 43%.
  • The Evangels continue to pride themselves in their defense, holding opponents to a measly 56.7 points per game. The Evangels lead the way averaging 11.5 steals, 3.2 blocks, forcing 21.5 turnovers a game.

SCOUTING REPORT

Nelson (Texas)

• Record: 12-2 (8-2 SAC)
• Last Game: Won at Texas Wesleyan – 82-70 – Jan. 12, 2025 – Fort Worth, Texas
• Series vs MACU: MACU Leads 22-11
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 81-56 – Jan. 18, 2025 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: MACU W3
• Players to Watch
  • Paris Miller – SR – F
    • 218 Points (15.6 ppg), 82-182 FG (45.1 %), 32-84 3FG (38.1 %), 22-33 FT (66.7 %), 84 Reb (6.0 rpg), 31 Assists (2.2 apg), 19 Steals (1.4 spg), 14 GP, 1 GS, 300 MIN
  • Kate Miller – JR – F
    • 173 Points (12.4 ppg), 55-125 FG (44.0 %), 10-44 3FG (22.7 %), 53-71 FT (74.6 %), 82 Reb (5.9 rpg), 30 Assists (2.1 apg), 16 Steals (1.1 spg), 14 GP, 14 GS, 319 MIN
• Team Notes:
  • Nelson returned to the win column against Texas Wesleyan last time out after suffering only its second loss in conference play at home against College of the Ozarks. The Lions are 8-2 in conference play, good for joint second place, one game back of the top spot.
  • The Lions are led offensively by Senior forward Paris Miller who averages 15.6 points per game and six boards. Miller scored 19 points while grabbing nine rebounds in Nelson's win over the Rams last Monday.
  • Nelson enters the contest with the highest rated offense in the Sooner Athletic Conference averaging a conference-high and top 10 nationally 82.5 points per game. The Lions use their 43% from the field, conference best 11 three-pointers made a game on 33.3% and pace the way shooting 77% from the free throw line to put ridiculous scoring numbers this season. The Lions also lead the conference in rebounds, rebounding margin, assists, and only 14 turnovers per game.
  • Mid-America Christian hold the all-time record against Nelson at 22-11, while winning three consecutive against the Lions. Nelson will be in search of revenge after MACU dominated by an 81-56 scoreline inside the Gaulke Activity Center last season on Jan. 18, 2025.

SCOUTING REPORT

Texas Wesleyan

• Record: 7-9 (3-7 SAC)
• Last Game: Loss vs Nelson – 82-70 – Jan. 12, 2025 – Fort Worth, Texas
• Series vs MACU: MACU Leads 22-6
• Last Game vs MACU: MACU won 74-63 – Feb. 15, 2025 – Gaulke Activity Center
• Series Streak: MACU W5
• Players to Watch
  • Kameryn Phillips – SO – F
    • 286 Points (17.9 ppg), 94-183 FG (51.4 %), 98-132 FT (74.2 %), 89 Reb (5.6 rpg), 34 Steals (2.1 spg), 16 GP, 16 GS, 394 MIN
  • Nala Richardson – JR – G
    • 152 Points (9.5 ppg), 54-130 FG (41.5 %), 17-48 3FG (35.4 %), 27-46 FT (58.7 %), 43 Reb (2.7 rpg), 19 Assists (1.2 apg), 24 Steals (1.5 spg), 16 GP, 4 GS, 294 MIN
• Team Notes:
  • Texas Wesleyan earned its third SAC win a few games ago with a home win over John Brown. However, the Rams fell to Nelson last Monday to fall to 3-7 in conference play, a half game back of the final playoff spot.
  • The Rams are led by Sophomore forward Kameryn Phillips who averages 17.9 points per game, the second highest mark in the conference. Phillips shoots an efficient 51% from the field this season, while leading the Rams in scoring with 17 points in the loss last Monday night.  
  • The offensive production has been the weak point for TWU this season averaging just 62.8 points per game at 37.6% from the field, 28.8% from behind the arc, and 67% from the free throw line.  
  • However, Texas Wesleyan is much improved on the defensive side, forcing over 20 turnovers a game, a mark seeing the Rams top three in the conference. TWU has averaged only 60 points allowed while averaging three blocks a game.
  • MACU has dominated Texas Wesleyan as of late winning five consecutive against the Rams, holding an all-time record at 22-6.