Mid-America Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Women's Basketball team responded to the season opening defeat with a solid defensive performance, holding Friends to under 30% from the field in a 66-57 win over the Falcons on Wednesday evening inside the Gaulke Activity Center.  
 
SCORE

• Mid-America Christian 66, Friends 57
  • (RV) Mid-America Christian: (1-1)
  • Friends (Kan.): (1-2)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Caitlynn Jordan: 24 Points, 8-17 FG, 6-6 FT, 11 Reb, Stl
• Sarah Davison: 12 Points, 4-6 FG, 3-5 3FG, 3 Reb, Ast, Stl
• Monique Carter: 10 Points, 2-3 3FG, 6 Ast, 3 Reb, 2 Stl
• Mackenzie Heeke: 10 Points, 5-7 FG, 2 Reb, Ast, Stl

GAME SUMMARY

• First Quarter
  • MACU jumped out to an early lead as Mackenzie Heeke opened the scoring on the Evangels first offensive possession. The lead grew to 11-4 halfway through the first quarter as Monique Carter hit consecutive triples going into the media timeout.
  • The Falcons made a run through the latter stages of the opening quarter with the MACU lead trimmed to 13-11, but Caitlynn Jordan's jumper beat the buzzer as the Evangels led 15-11 after the first 10 minutes.
• Second Quarter
  • Jordan responded with a three after Friends hit from deep to even it up at 17s two minutes into the second quarter. The Falcons hit again from range, but Sarah Davison put MACU back up three with a huge and-one on the other end.
  • Friends kept the Evangels within five down the closing stretch. Heeke added a pair of layups late in the quarter, while Jordan recorded the final field goal of the first half to put MACU up 30-26.
  •  Caitlynn added one more highlight before the halftime break with a big defensive block in the final minute to keep the Evangels' four-point lead at halftime.
• Third Quarter
  • Caitlynn Jordan picked up right where she left off in the first half with a big defensive block closing out the three-point shooter which led to an easy fast break bucket on the other end. Jordan pushed it up ahead to add two more points in the paint to give the Evangels their largest lead of the evening at 36-28 just three minutes into the quarter.
  • The Falcons pulled back within one through the media timeout as the Evangels entered an extended scoring drought. However, Monique Carter turned defense into offense with a fastbreak layup off her steal to end the drought.
  • Sarah Davison hit a fast break three off the Aniya Smith steal to put MACU back up by eight, before Jordan added two more from the free throw line in the final seconds of the quarter as the Evangels led 49-41 through three.
• Fourth Quarter
  • Davison hit again from distance to put MACU up 10, two minutes into the final frame. However, Friends fired back with a quick 8-0 run over the next two minutes to force a MACU timeout up 54-52.
  • Noel Crabtree ended the run with a pair of free throws, followed by Heeke with two more big paint points. Out of the media timeout, Aniya Smith hit free throws on consecutive possessions as the lead was restored at 62-52 with three minutes to play.
  • Carter sealed the deal with free throws in the final minute, before Caitlynn Jordan closed off her incredible performance with a steal on the defensive end to earn the Evangels their first win of the season in 66-57 fashion over Friends.

 
GAME NOTES

• MACU restored the defensive dominance we were accustomed to seeing as the Evangels held Friends to under 30% (22-74) shooting from the field and 20% (7-34) from behind the arc. The Evangels shot 22-58 (37.9%) from the field and 33.3% (6-18) from the field. However, for the second consecutive game, MACU struggled from the free throw line at just 57.1% (16-28).
• Caitlynn Jordan has turned into a double-double machine with her second in as many games, finishing with a team-high 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jacey Crawford struggled offensively but did grab nine boards including three on the offensive glass.
• Sarah Davison scored 12 points off the bench with a 3-5 performance from behind the arc. Monique Carter and Mackenzie Heeke both reached double digits with 10 points each. Carter knocked down two triples while Heeke shot an efficient 5-7 from the field.
• Monique Carter found her passing groove with a team-high six assists. Jacey Crawford and Aniya Smith distributed two dimes of their own.
• The Evangels were monstrous defensively with eight steals and three blocks led by Caitlynn Jordan with two apiece in that category. Carter added two steals of her own, while Crawford recorded the third block.
• MACU restored the all-time record back to .500 with a 2-2 record against Friends, avenging the loss in Wichita, Kan. in the season opener last year.

UP NEXT

• Mid-America Christian hits the road for the first time in its young season as the Evangels will play a part in the TEXWES Classic down in Fort Worth, Texas. MACU will play Keiser (Fla.) first on Friday for a 5 P.M. tipoff, before closing it out with Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon tipping off at 12 P.M.