Oklahoma City, Okla. -- April Hale scored a game-high 22 points to help the Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels hold off a second half rally by the Central Baptist Lady Mustangs and win 65-51 in a non-conference tilt Monday evening (Nov. 29) at the Gaulke Activity Center.
The Lady Evangels (3-3) took a 12-point lead into the locker room, only to have the Lady Mustangs (0-9) out-score them 20-10 over the first 11 minutes of the second half behind 12 points from Britney Nealy that made it 45-43 with 8:48 left.
That's when April Hale stemmed the tide back in MACU's favor by scoring nine points to fuel a 12-2 spurt that gave the Lady Evangels their 12 point lead back at 57-45 with 6:20 remaining.
Hale got it going with consecutive three-point plays, both on brilliant inside feeds from Chelsea Key.
Key then got into the scoring act by nailing a three and Hale followed that with a trey of her own that capped the run.
After DeAnna Reeves converted a three-point play that cut the lead to nine, the Lady Evangels scored the next six points to put the game away.
Hale also helped the Lady Evangels get off to a blazing start in the first half by combining with Nicole Wittman for 15 points as MACU built a 23-9 lead at the 8:19 mark of the first half.
A bucket by Wittman and two free throws by Marcy Robinson ballooned the lead to 17 at 29-12 with 6:06 left in the opening half.
The lead was 31-16 when the Lady Mustangs scored six straight to trim the lead to single-digits at nine and the Lady Evangels went on to a 35-23 halftime lead.
Hale's 22 points came on a solid 8-of-9 shooting from the field. She also pulled down seven rebounds. Wittman tallied 12 points and recorded a game-high eight boards.
Nealy led the Lady Mustangs with 21 and Casey Williams added 10.
One huge key to the victory was the Lady Evangels' dominance on the boards, holding a 36-18 edge on the glass.
MACU will now resume action in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a tough matchup against No. 20-ranked Lubbock Christian on Thursday evening (Dec. 2). Tip-off against LCU is set for 6 p.m. at the Gaulke Activity Center.
