The Thunder women's and men's basketball teams were both back at home this weekend for Midwest Christian College Conference and NCCAA Central Region action. The women would open up the weekend with a Friday night game against reigning Central Region Champs, the Calvary University Warriors. The Lady Thunder would jump out all over the Warriors with a 9-0 run to start the game. After one quarter, the Lady Thunder would lead 18-9. The Warriors would have a better second quarter as they outscored the Lady Thunder by two to cut into the lead heading into halftime. The Lady Thunder would respond by outscoring the Warriors 16-11 in the third quarter to take a 12-point lead into the final quarter. The Warriors would cut the lead to six with 7:16 remaining, but the Lady Thunder would push through and finish it off with 66-55 win. Redshirt-senior, Nekayla Williams would lead the way with 21 points. Freshman, Mackenzie Lovett would have a near double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, while sophomore, Macayla Hines would stuff the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. Freshman, Tatum Milenski would have a career high eight points in 24 minutes off the bench. The Lady Thunder would shoot 40.9% from the field, 30.0% from the three-point line, and 75.0% from the free throw line.

On Saturday afternoon, the Lady Thunder would battle with the defending national champions, the Ozark Christian College Ambassadors. The Ambassadors came into the game undefeated and ranked #4 in the latest NCCAA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches Poll. While the Ambassadors jumped out to a 5-0 lead, the Lady Thunder responded with an 8-0 of their own. After one quarter, the Lady Thunder would take a five point lead, 17-12. The Ambassadors would cut into that lead, but the Lady Thunder would lead at the break, 33-31. Another back and forth quarter would see the Lady Thunder hold onto a one point lead with 10 minutes left in the game. With 1:08 remaining, the Lady Thunder would take a two point lead on a Williams bucket, but the Ambassadors would answer with two made free throws on the next possession. A missed shot and a turnover in the Lady Thunder's final two possessions would give the Ambassadors the ball with 5.5 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, the Ambassadors would drive in and make a layup with 0.7 seconds on the clock and the Lady Thunder would drop a heartbreaker, 58-56. Hines would score 13 points and Williams would have 12 to pace the Lady Thunder. Three other Lady Thunder players would score nine points to balance the scoring output. The Lady Thunder would shoot 37.3% from the field, 27.3% from the three-point line, and 60.0% from the free throw line. With the Lady Thunder going 1-1, they are now 6-9 overall, 2-2 in the MCCC, and 2-1 in the Central Region.

The Lady Thunder will play again on Friday, January 16th at Central Christian College of the Bible in another MCCC and Central Region game. This game with tip-off at 5:00PM in Moberly, Missouri.

The #5 ranked Thunder men's basketball team would also play Calvary University on Friday night. The Thunder would be in a back and forth battle before the Thunder would extend their lead to double figures with 4:31 remaining in the half. The Thunder would lead the Warriors 41-26 after 20 minutes. The Thunder would maintain their double digit lead throughout the second half leading by as much as 20 late in the game and would close out the Warriors, 80-64. Five Thunder players would score at least 10 points led by junior, Hunter Hill who had 14 points, to go along with eight rebounds. The trio of Fred Criqui, James Braddy, and Jordan Carter would all score 11 points a piece to chip in for the Thunder. The Thunder would shoot 42.9% from the field, 31.8% from the three-point line, and 55.9% from the free throw line.

On Saturday afternoon, the Thunder would be back in action against MCCC rival, Ozark Christian. The Thunder would find themselves down 10 with 11:53 left in the first half. An 8-0 run would cut the Ambassadors lead to two and the Thunder would take the lead with 6:20 remaining in the half. The Thunder would close out the half with a 39-38 lead. The Thunder would come out of the half slow and find themselves down 11 seven minutes into the second half. The Ambassadors would take their largest lead of the game at 15 points with just over 10 minutes left in the game. The Thunder would cut it down to six points twice, but they could not mix stops on defense with points on the offensive end and the Thunder would fall, 86-76. Tatum Pierce would score 21 points, while Criqui would have a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. It was a cold shooting day for the Thunder as they would shoot 35.5% from the field, 30.0% from the three-point line, and 59.1% from the free throw line. After going 1-1 this weekend, the Thunder are now 10-6 overall, 2-2 in the MCCC, and 2-1 in the Central Region.

The Thunder will play on the road against #3 ranked Spurgeon College on Tuesday, January 13th at 6:30PM in Kansas City, Missouri.

How to Follow the Thunder: For complete information and to stay up-to-date with Manhattan Christian College Men's and Women's Basketball, visit www.mccthunder.com and follow the team's social media pages on the Men's X and Instagram and the Women's X and Instagram.