FORT WORTH-- The Texas Wesleyan women's basketbal (17-3,11-3 SAC) team lost 101-92 against MACU (20-2,12-2) on Thursday evening at the Sid Richardson Center in a conference matchup. 

The first quarter was fast-paced as each team traded baskets in the first 6 minutes of the game. MACU led 12-10 with 4:50 left in the first quarter. The Lady Rams exploded offensively as they went on a 11-2 run to take a 21-14 lead in the dwindling minutes of the opening quarter of play. On this run Hailee Walls hit a three-pointer, Kertisa Amos made a tough layup, and then Quinnae Love and Mary Nyakundi hit consecutive three-pointers to cap off an explosive offensive run that tilted the momentum in favor of the Lady Rams.

MACU battled back with 9 points in the last 3 minutes to cut the deficit to 5 after 1 quarter of play. The Lady Rams started the second quarter of play with a 28-23 lead.

In a game of runs the Lady Rams answered the call with two tough layups made by Carter and an Amos layup to extend the TXWES lead to 38-28 with 5:58 left in the second quarter. The Evangels kept giving effort as they outscored the Lady Rams 13-7 in the last 3 minutes of the first half to make the score 45-41 at half. 

Hailee walls gave the Lady Rams a huge boost in the first half off the bench as she made 3 three-pointers and played tough defense. In the first half, Amos scored 12 points, Coy scored 10 points, and walls scored 9 points.TXWES shot 40 percent from the field in the first half.

The Lady Rams started to dominate the paint in the third quarter as Zarria Carter scored 5 straight points to keep TXWES ahead 50-47 with 7:03 left in the third quarter. The Evangels matched the Lady Rams energy with 8 straight points to take a 55-52 lead with 3:56 left in the third quarter. 

Momentum shifted in the third quarter as MACU outscored the Lady Rams 25-13. A late three-pointer by the Evangels gave them a 66-58 lead after 3 quarters of play.

MACU extended their lead to 10 points after an energetic start to the fourth quarter. Zarria Carter made an energetic play with a putback and a turnaround jumpshot to pull the Lady Rams within 6 points with 6:53 left in the game. Kylie Leverich answered back with a layup to extend the Evangels lead to 74-66 with 6 minutes left.

The Lady Rams kept fighting back in the fourth quarter, but were not able to overcome the second half of offensive performance from the Evangels as they scored 44 points in the second half. MACU prevailed with a 101-92 victory over the Lady Rams. 

TXWES had 4 players score in double-digits. Freshman Zarria Carter scored a team high 23 points, junior Kertisa Amos scored 20 points, junior Makayla Coy notched 13 points, and senior Hailee Walls scored 12 points.

The Lady Rams move to 4-16 all-time against MACU. The Lady Rams will hit the road on Saturday as they take on Southwestern Christian University at 2 p.m. in Bethany, Oklahoma.