December 8, 2023 | by Ashley Nerat

LEAD

ANKENY, Iowa -- Maranatha opened their play at the Faith Christmas Classic with a 54-40 victory over Calvary University. 

Lindsay Mikkelson led the team with 13 points and Kyria Teachout, Katelyn Brown, and Sarah Ureke also scored in double digits with 12, 10, and 10 respectively. Ureke earned her first career double-double as she recorded 10 rebounds on the day as well.

Paige Joiner did her part in finding her open teammates, earning a career-high 9 assists on the night. 

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 54-40 Calvary
• Venue: Nettleton Courts - Faith Baptist Bible College
• Location: Ankeny, Iowa
• Event: FBBC Christmas Classic
• Attendance: 45
• Records: MBU (3-5), CU (2-5)

STORY 

An early foul Maranatha gave Calvary a pair of free throws to start the game. But a three-pointer from Lindsay Mikkelson put Maranatha ahead 5-4 after three minutes of play.

The Sabercats held a 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter but failed to get things going in the second.  They went just over four minutes without making a single shot, giving the lead over to the Warriors (18-16 CU). But just as Calvary grabbed a hold of the lead Mikkelson clapped back with another three-pointer to put her team back on top. 

For the rest of the half, it was the Sabercats who stayed in control, outscoring Calvary 7-2 in the remaining minutes (26-20 MBU).

The third quarter lacked much action all the way through, ending with Calvary outplaying Maranatha 10-7 (33-30 MBU). 

But something stirred in Maranatha during the fourth quarter as all five of the on-court players chipped in on a 15-point run. This run gained the Sabercats their biggest lead of the night with 16. 

The Warriors had no answers for this sudden burst of energy from Maranatha and fell in the end 40-54.

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Maranatha Starters: 5-Ureke, 10-Joiner, 13-Teachout 21-Mikkelson, 25-Brown

STATS

• Box Score
• MBU: shot 37.9 percent from the field
• CU: shot 20 percent from the field
• Mikkelson: 13 PTS, 5 REB
• Brown: 10 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST
• Teachout: 11 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST
• Ureke^: 10 PTS, 10 REB
• Joiner: 9 PTS, 9 AST*
• Last time: Maranatha defeated Calvary 43-36 on December 9, 2022
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against Calvary 7-0

*Career-High :: ^Double-Double

OPPONENTS

• Calvary competes in the Midwest Christian College Conference
• Calvary also competes in the NCCAA Central Region
• Calvary finished the '22-23 season with an 8-12 record

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Ankeny to face Faith, tomorrow at 12 P.M. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.