OKLAHOMA CITY – MACU Women's Basketball shut down a fourth quarter Nelson comeback off the back of a Caitlynn Jordan double-double as the Evangels win a third consecutive game on Thursday night inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 60, Nelson 58
  • Mid-America Christian: (13-3, 8-2 SAC)
  • Nelson: (12-3, 8-3 SAC)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Taliah Lee: 17 Points, 7-12 FG, 2-5 3FG, 9 Reb, 4 Ast, 2 Blk
• Caitlynn Jordan: 15 Points, 5-11 FG, 3-5 3FG, 10 Reb, 2 Blk, 1 Ast
• Mia Smith: 10 Points, 2-4 3FG, 5 Reb, 2 Ast, 1 Stl
• Sincere Roberts: 9 Points, 4-11 FG, 5 Stl, 3 Reb

GAME SUMMARY

• First Quarter
  • Nelson hit the scoreboard first with a three-pointer from Lauryn Scalice. However, an offensive explosion took place for MACU with 16 straight points to quickly jump to a 16-3 lead just six minutes into the contest. Taliah Lee continued good form with five points during this stretch, while Mia Smith and Caitlynn Jordan both splashed in triples.
  • The Lions found offensive momentum with a quick seven points in response, but Jordan followed with consecutive cashed heat checks from behind the arc to close out quarter and to give MACU a 24-10 advantage.
• Second Quarter
  • The Evangels' defense swarmed the Lions holding them scoreless in the opening five minutes of the second quarter. Taliah Lee scored five consecutive to extend the largest lead of the night at 30-10.
  • Nelson stormed back with ten consecutive approaching the final two minutes. Nelson, the best three-point shooting team in the SAC, started to find its rhythm. MACU closed the half with a pair of layups at the basket, to take a 34-22 lead into the halftime break.
• Third Quarter
  • Early fireworks to start the second half as both teams found its shooting stroke. Four buckets were traded in the opening minute, as MACU held a 38-27 lead.
  • Lee and Jordan continued to dominate inside the paint. However, the Lions battled back as shots continued to fall from deep. Sincere Roberts finished at the rim to take us to the media timeout as MACU led 47-34.
  • The Evangel defense once again proved its top rank in the conference holding the Lions scoreless the remaining 3:30 of the quarter. However, Lee had the only basket during the stretch to hold a 53-39 advantage through three quarters.
• Fourth Quarter
  • Nelson rallied on the defensive end holding the Evangels to tough shots in efforts to spark a late comeback. Roberts finished in the paint with eight minutes to play to score the only field goal for MACU in the quarter.
  • A quick eight-point spurt for the Lions trimmed the lead to just five, at 56-51, during the halfway media timeout.
  • Monique Carter ended the run from the free throw line, but five straight Nelson points brought the Lions within two at 58-56. Jordan added a pair of clutch free throws to go back up four with eight seconds left.
  • The Lions responded with a layup in the closing seconds to cut the lead back to two, followed by a three-point effort at the buzzer that just missed as MACU escapes with a 60-58 win with seven fourth quarter points off one made field goal.

GAME NOTES

• MACU finished 23-62 (37.1%) from the field, 29.6% from behind the arc at 8-27, and converted 6-of-10 (60.0%) free throws. The Lions shot 22-64 (34.4%) from the field, 9-33 (27.3%) from three, and 5-6 (83.3%) from the free throw line.    
• Mid-America Christian had three players finish with double digit scoring. Taliah Lee led the way with 17 off 7-12 (58.3%). Caitlynn Jordan chipped in 15 points with three triples and Mia Smith had 10 points from 2-4 3FG.
• Caitlynn Jordan tallied her fourth double-double of the season as she led the Evangels with 10 rebounds. Taliah Lee fell a board short of a double-double herself, finishing with nine rebounds.  
• The Evangels continued to show a dominant defense presence with seven steals and four blocks. Sincere Roberts finished with a season-high five steals, while Lee led with two blocks.  
• Mid-America Christian improves to 8-2 in conference play with this win over Nelson to jump them over the Lions in a joint second place in the SAC.  
• MACU improved its all-time record against Nelson to 23-11, as the Evangels now defeat the Lions for the fourth consecutive game.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian travel to Fort Worth, Texas to face the Rams of Texas Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon for a 2 p.m. tipoff inside the Sid Richardson Center.