November 8, 2024

Waxahachie, TX – The Nelson University Lady Lions put up a valiant effort in their 2024-25 home opener against the formidable OUAZ Spirit on Friday afternoon at the Sheaffer Center. Despite a strong showing in the first half, the Lady Lions fell short in a 77-64 decision, taking their season record to 1-2.
 

Lady Lions Review
The Lady Lions came out with energy matching the Spirit basket for basket. The opening quarter showcased Nelson's resilience, ending 21-20 in their favor. Kyla McMinn's inside presence and Autumn Moore's precision shooting kept the Lady Lions in the game, both scoring effectively to give the team an edge. However, the second quarter saw OUAZ tighten their defense, leading to a 14-10 scoring deficit for the Lady Lions. The teams went into halftime with Nelson trailing narrowly at 34-31, battling against OUAZ's relentless star, All-American Brianna Humphries.

As the game progressed, OUAZ picked up their momentum, displaying why they remain undefeated at 5-0. In the third quarter, the Spirit surged with a 27-point run, outpacing the Lady Lions, who managed only 21 points in response. Kate Miller, playing for 34 minutes, showed commendable effort with 11 points and 2 assists, while Wendy Clemmons contributed five points and continued her scrappy play on both ends of the floor.

Despite fierce drives and tenacious rebounding from players like Neeley Tilley-Bedick and remarkable shooting from Ashley Gonzalez, Nelson's shooting percentage faltered. The Lady Lions hit only 22.22% from the field in the fourth quarter, ultimately unable to close the gap against an unwavering OUAZ defense that limited their perimeter shooting.

Kyla McMinn led Nelson in scoring with an impressive 16 points, shooting 8-for-12 from the field, and added four rebounds. Autumn Moore was not far behind with 15 points, showcasing her knack for key jump shots and defensive intensity. Ashley Gonzalez added valuable points off the bench, finishing with 10.
 

What's Next for the Lady Lions?
The Lady Lions now turn their attention to Sooner Athletic Conference play as they prepare for their first conference showdown against Oklahoma City University on Thursday, November 14th, at 6:00 PM in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Nelson University (formerly SAGU) is a private Christian university, established in 1927 by P.C. Nelson. The University is located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas, and offers more than 70 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees on campus or online. For more information, visit www.nelson.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.