Oklahoma City, Okla. -- In head coach Roman Owen's first season at the helm, the Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels again used a suffocating defensive effort to take the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Central Regional championship with an 80-63 victory over the Southwestern Christian Lady Eagles Saturday afternoon (Mar. 12) at the Gaulke Activity Center. 

The opening half was back and forth, featuring four ties and nine lead changes. 

A three by April Hale snapped a 27-27 at the 4:35 mark of the first half and the Lady Evangels went on to lead 34-31 at the half. 

The Lady Eagles hung close throughout most of the second stanza and came within two on a trey by LaPorchea Sanders with 16:46 remaining. 

The lead was five when the Lady Evangels finally broke the game open with a 9-0 run fueled by five points from Michelle Hardimon that made it 66-52 with just 4:37 left. 

After Allie McIntosh snapped the scoring run with a layup, the Lady Evangels continued to pull away with a 10-2 run, with all 10 points coming at the foul line that featured aggressive drives into the lane. 

The Lady Eagles got no closer than 17 from that point. 

Marcy Robinson again had a solid game, leading a balanced scoring attack with 18 points and 3-of-7 from three-point range.  Hardimon had 16 and a game-high six assists, while Brittany Johnson had 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.

Brittany Woodard chipped in with 10 for the Lady Evangels.

McIntosh led all scorers with 19 and Brandie Sandy chipped in with 14. 

The Lady Evangels limited the Lady Eagles to only 38.2 percent (21-of-55), including only a 34.6  percent (9-of-26) shooting clip in the second half. 

MACU also dominated inside, out-rebounding the Lady Eagles 44-30 overall. 

The Lady Evangels will now compete in the NCCAA National Tournament at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana on Mar. 17-19.  Game times and opponents are yet to be determined.