OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: The Texas Wesleyan University women's basketball team (13-6, 4-3 SAC) fell just short in an 80-79 thriller against Mid-America Christian University (11-5, 4-3 SAC) at the Gaulke Activity Center on Thursday.
 
The game was tightly contested to start, as neither team was able to establish control of the court. The game was tied at 12-12 before the Lady Rams took a narrow 17-12 lead on an Amy Easley coast-to-coast layup with 11:34 remaining in the first half. The Evangels worked diligently to tie the game, with a Tierra Brown two-pointer at 21-21.
 
Mid-America Christian found a bit of daylight with 6-0 run capped by a pair of Lindsey Mann free throws to take a 29-23 lead with five minutes left in the first half. The Evangels continued to use that momentum to build a 42-32 lead, their biggest of the night. Texas Wesleyan answered with a 5-0 run capped by a Katelynn Threats layup, shutting out MACU in the last minute to cut the lead to 42-37 heading into halftime.
 
Wesleyan continued their run in the second half, posting a 6-0 run capped by a Carneisha Sims jumper to take a 43-42 lead. Lakota Thompson and the Evangels fought back to find a 46-43 advantage, and kept Wesleyan at bay for a few game minutes. Mid-America Christian controlled the game 62-57 after a three-pointer midway through the second half, using the home crowd to find a second wind.
 
Krissy Parker and Sims led a short 6-0 rally to gain a 64-62 lead with seven minutes to go. The two teams traded the lead seven times in an all-out shootout to the finish. The Evangels controlled a 78-71 lead with 2:12 left on the clock, before the Lady Rams charged on an 8-0 run capped by an Easley floater in the paint to take a 79-78 lead with 19 seconds left in the game. MACU defended their turf though, and marched down the court and put in a two-pointer for an 80-79 advantage. Texas Wesleyan had the ball with seven seconds remaining, but fell just short of notching another win on the road.
 
Shooting was fairly even from the field, MACU shooting 43 percent and TWU shooting 42 percent. Wesleyan won the rebound battle 48-43. The difference was Mid-America Christian shooting a lights out 7 of 14 from the behind the arc in the second half.
 
Threats led all players with 21 points, picking up a double-double with 16 rebounds. Stacey Darnley added 16 points and six assists and six steals. Sims posted 17 points, while Onyesonam Nolisa notched 13 points and seven boards for the Lady Rams.
 
Texas Wesleyan will look to find the win column in a game with University of Science and Arts (OK) on Saturday, January 24. The contest is set for a 3:00 pm start in the Sid Richardson Center.