LEAD

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Sabercats have earned a berth in the National 5th-Place Game after a dramatic 77-73 comeback win over hosts #8 Ozark Christian at NCCAA Nationals today.

Callie Morrison not only sealed the win from the free-throw line, but she also scored 34 points to lead all scorers. Jacklyn Simpson added 16 points and 7 rebounds and Emily Johnson had some key three-pointers late in the game, finishing with 12 points. With the win, Maranatha will play tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. CST against the winner of #6 Trinity Baptist and #7 Barclay. 

OVERVIEW

• Result: #4 Maranatha 77-73 #8 Ozark Christian
• Venue: Ozark Christian College
• Event: NCCAA DII National Tournament
• Location: Joplin, Mo.
• Attendance: 98
• Records: MBU (11-9), OCC (16-14)

STORY

It was like Ozark couldn't miss in the first half, as they rode the momentum of their home floor by shooting almost 60 percent from the field. Callie Morrison put up 9 points and Jacklyn Simpson had 5 as the Sabercats clawed from a few points back to end the quarter with a 22-21 lead.

The back-and-forth first quarter foreshadowed the rest of the game, as the lead would ultimately change hands 12 times in 40 minutes.

*calmly jogs off* https://t.co/btPCwXAqO6

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) March 13, 2021

After holding a 39-35 halftime lead, Ozark stayed just a few points ahead of Maranatha until midway through the fourth quarter. Maranatha's persistence was rewarded with three downtown connections from Emily Johnson, whose three-point prowess gave Maranatha a 7-point lead with 3 minutes left.

The momentum might have shifted, but Ozark's resolve stayed put. The Ambassadors took the game right down to the wire, coming back to within one point with just seconds on the clock. But in the final few possessions, the Sabercats' defense came up big, and sent Simpson and Morrison to the free-throw line to seal the game. Morrison stared down the basket with two seconds on the clock, nailing both of her attempts from the line to seal the four-point win.

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Maranatha Starters: 3- C. Morrison, 4- Johnson, 5- Hansel, 25- K. Morrison, 32- Simpson // Ozark Starters: 10- Miller, 11- Pipins, 14- Purinton, 23- Schaper, 32- Gentry

STATS

• Morrison: 34 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 4 STL
• Morrison: 2nd-best scoring performance in her career
• Simpson: 16 PTS, 7 REB
• Johnson: 12 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
• MBU: 37.8 FG%, 47.4 3PT%
• MBU: season-low 8 turnovers
• Last time: The Sabercats won 60-56 in the 2016-17 season
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series 5-0
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time postseason series 3-0

OPPONENTS

• Ozark qualified for Nationals as the tournament host
• Ozark competes in the Southwest Region and the Midwest Christian College Conference

NEXT

The Sabercats are placed in the 5th-place game tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. against the winner of #6 Trinity Baptist and #7 Barclay. Find details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.