McPherson, Kansas | February 19, 2026 – The road tested them early. The fourth quarter defined them.

The Nelson University Lady Lions traveled to Jerry Alexander Arena on Thursday night for a pivotal Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) matchup and walked out with a gritty 66–58 victory over Central Christian College (Kan.).

After trailing at halftime, Nelson flipped the script with a dominant second-half surge — capped by a suffocating defensive performance in the final frame that held Central Christian to just 2 fourth-quarter points.

Central Christian came out firing, shooting over 50% in the first quarter and building a 22–17 advantage after one. The Tigers carried that momentum into halftime, leading 38–31 as Nelson struggled to find rhythm offensively.

But championship-caliber teams respond.

The Lady Lions roared out of the locker room with purpose, shooting 60% in the third quarter. The offense found balance and pace, cutting into the deficit and setting up a decisive final 10 minutes.

Kaitlyn McKenna ignited the perimeter attack, pouring in 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from deep, while Paris Miller delivered a commanding inside presence with a monster stat line: 16 points and 18 rebounds — controlling the glass and owning second-chance opportunities.

Nelson finished with a commanding 43–36 rebounding edge and turned defensive pressure into key possessions down the stretch.

If the third quarter was the spark, the fourth was the statement.

Nelson's defense slammed the door, allowing Central Christian just one made field goal in the final period — an 8.3% shooting quarter for the Tigers. Every rotation was sharp. Every rebound was secured. Every possession mattered.

The Lady Lions outscored Central Christian 13–2 in the final frame, flipping a tight contest into a controlled road win.

Abby Boyce added 9 points, while Kate Miller contributed 5 points and 6 assists to steady the offense

By the Numbers

• 66–58 Final
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• 13 three-pointers made

• 40.6% from beyond the arc
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• 11 second-chance points to CCC's 0
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• 100% from the free-throw line (3-of-3)
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Next Up
The Lady Lions close out regular-season conference play on Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 PM on the road against Langston University in their final SAC game of the season.

One more conference battle. One more opportunity to sharpen the edge before postseason play.

Nelson University (formerly SA GU) 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-NELSON.