LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Maranatha beat Lincoln Christian 84-69 tonight thanks to a 24-point performance and 1,000-career-points milestone from Callie Morrison.

Morrison, a junior, hit the mark from the free-throw line at the end of the third quarter, helping cap off a dominant performance and a season sweep over the Red Lions.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 84-69 Lincoln Christian
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 87
• Records: MBU (8-7), LCU (3-7)

STORY

Both teams shot their way out to an impressive start, and Callie got her special day started with 10 points right away in the first quarter. Maranatha had eight different contributors in the first half alone, and a late three from Emily Johnson upped her tally to a team-leading 13 points, bringing the Sabercats into the locker room ahead 45-30.

The second-half story was largely similar. Callie's big moment came with 1:42 left in the third quarter when she stepped up and calmly hit a free throw to hit the 1,000-points mark. Morrison made her second for good measure and finished the night with 24 points. She needed 17 to hit the milestone.

Jacklyn Simpson played a support role with 14 points and five rebounds. Claire Hansel was right there as well, logging the game's only double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Lincoln's Mikayla Smith led the way for the Red Lions with 20 points and eight boards on the day.

.@calliemo30 just hit 1,000 career points with her family there to celebrate it!! pic.twitter.com/N5rJx44dtR

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) February 9, 2021

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Maranatha Starters: 3- C. Morrison, 4- Johnson, 5- Hansel, 25- K. Morrison, 32- Simpson // Lincoln Christian Starters: 3- Seidel, 5- Price, 10- McClure, 20- Rosenberry, 32- Smith

SOUND BITE 

"I honestly didn't know I just got 1,000," said Callie after the game. "But I realized it eventually. [Getting] a thousand points is awesome, but I was more focused [today] on just winning and playing better than we did last night. [But] all the time I've put in, I feel like it's showing, so it proves that hard work really does pay off - not just working out during the season but working out year-round for your sport."

"The exciting part of all of that is when you know how hard someone works to get to that point," said Clayton Morrison - Callie's father and Maranatha head coach. "And then to see them get to a milestone like 1,000 points is very fulfilling as a parent and as a family member, for sure. She's gifted and she has a court awareness that was God-given, and she followed through with practicing, sacrificing, and making the commitment. . . for her it was a great thing, and I hope other people see that if they have talents - basketball or not - that if God gives you a gift, use it."

STATS

• Morrison: 24 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST
• Morrison: Passed 1,000 career points in the win
• Morrison: Needs just 11 more points to overtake former teammate Kelsey Johnson for 15th-highest scorer in program history
• Johnson: 16 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST
• Simpson: 14 PTS, 5 REB
• Rebounds: Maranatha 50-24 Lincoln Christian
• Last time: The Sabercats won 65-43 a couple weeks ago
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series 31-12

OPPONENTS

• Lincoln Christian competes in the NAIA as an independent member
• Lincoln Christian also competes in the NCCAA DI
• Lincoln Christian used to compete with Maranatha for the NCCAA DII Midwest Region

NEXT

The Sabercats face Trinity International next Saturday at 1:00 p.m. for their final home game this season. Find details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.