Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | February 27, 2026 – For 39 minutes and 26 seconds, the Nelson University Lady Lions stood toe-to-toe with the No. 2 seed. In the final possessions, the margins turned razor thin.
Nelson dropped a 67–64 decision to Mid-America Christian University Friday night inside Abe Lemons Arena in the Sooner Athletic Conference Semifinals.
It was a heavyweight bout from the opening tip; physical in the paint, contested on the perimeter, and played with postseason urgency.
Mid-America Christian struck first, building a six-point edge after the first quarter (21–15). The Evangels leaned on interior production, finishing with 44 points in the paint, while Nelson countered with perimeter firepower and toughness on the glass.
Senior guard Lauryn Scalice delivered a flamethrower performance, pouring in 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three-point range. Every time MACU tried to stretch the margin, Scalice answered with a dagger from deep.
At halftime, Nelson trailed 38–30, but the Lady Lions were far from finished.
Out of the locker room, Nelson punched back with authority. The Lady Lions exploded for 21 third-quarter points, attacking the paint and creating second-chance opportunities. Junior forward Kate Miller battled inside for a team-high 12 rebounds to go with 10 points, anchoring the effort on both ends.
Senior forward Paris Miller added 11 points and eight rebounds, carving out space in traffic and converting through contact.
By the time the fourth quarter arrived, it was a one-possession game.
With 34 seconds remaining, Presley Wheeler drilled a clutch three-pointer to give Nelson a 64–61 lead. The Lady Lions had seized momentum and put pressure squarely on the No. 2 seed.
But postseason basketball demands perfection in the margins.
Mid-America Christian answered with back-to-back scores in the paint and converted late free throws in the final seconds to seal the 67–64 result. Nelson's final three-point attempt fell short as time expired.
While the semifinal run comes to a close, the Lady Lions' body of work remains strong and firmly in the conversation for the national stage.
Next Up
The Lady Lions turn their focus to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Selection Show on March 5 at 7:00 p.m. CT, where Nelson will learn its postseason fate.
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.
