A Christian University & Bible College in Texas (Assemblies of God)

Team Lioness Seeks Payback on Friday

SAGU in NCCAA Regional vs SWCU

Swan Song for Harris, Hawkins, Jefferson, Jones

OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma  --  The Southwestern Assemblies of God University women's basketball team have entered the Central Regional tournament of the NCCAA this weekend. The games will be hosted by Mid-America Christian University and played on their Gaulke Activity Center court.

The top-seeded Lady Lions (21-11) play on Friday in the women's semi-finals. They will face the #4 seed, Southwestern Christian University (Okla) at 2:00pm. SWCU's Lady Eagles (12-17) defeated SAGU in the second game of the season, 61-57, at nearby Bethany, a western suburb of OKC. 

In the Eagles win over SAGU, they dominated the boards, 43-30. The Lady Lions outshot them, but free throws were the deciding factor. SWCU converted 15-of-21 to SAGU's 8-of-12.

Jirah Rodriguez (Georgetown, Tx / Georgetown HS), a freshman forward had an outstanding game, pouring in eight of twelve shots to finish with 19 points. Stephanie Hawkins (DeSoto, Tx / DeSoto HS) tossed in 15, while the Blue Birds held Chelsea Jones (San Antonio, Tx / Cornerstone Christian) in check. She still managed 13.

SWCU has familiar faces

Southwestern Christian has three players on their current roster who played in the Red River Athletic Conference last year, including two former Langston University players. Brandie Sandy, a guard, and Donyel Moses, a forward, are seniors who played against SAGU last year.

The Eagles are coached by Becky Mitchell, now in her ninth year at Bethany. Her squad is known for balanced scoring, while the team averages 67 ppg and yield 72.

Moses is the Eagles leading scorer at 13.0 ppg. LaPorchea Sanders, who played for Jarvis Christian a year ago, averages 10.9. Sheirra Bruner carries a 10.5 avg, while Kaylee Davis and Sandy account for 9.8 and 8.4 per contest.

Swan Song for Seniors

The National Christian College Athletic Association post-season tourney will be the final game(s) for SAGU four seniors; Hawkins, Jones, Heather Jefferson (Conroe, Tx / Conroe HS) and Rachel Harris (Joshua, Tx / Bethesda Christian).

The other semi-final pits the #2 seed, MACU (12-16) against #3 Central Baptist College (Ark) (10-14 record) at 6pm.

Provided the Lady Lions win on Friday, they will meet the winner of MACU and CBC in the final on Saturday at 1:00pm.

SAGU did not face Mid-America this year, though they did top the Central Baptist Lady Mustangs, 60-52, in Waxahachie in November.