OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels used a methodical effort to cruise to a 66-52 victory over the Southwestern Assemblies of God University Lady Lions Saturday afternoon (Feb. 15) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.

Ashlee Ferguson led the Lady Evangels with a team-high 18 points, all coming on six threes, which ties a single-game school record since joining the NAIA. 

The pivotal point of the second half occurred when Nia Winston scored all eight points of an 8-0 spurt that shaved a 16-point Lady Evangel in half to 44-36 at the 12:18 mark.

The Lady Evangels' response was a critical 17-5 run that was led by a combined 10 points from Been and Alliyah Spatafora that stretched the lead to 61-41 with 7:55 left.

SAGU tried to hang around as Winston scored five of eight straight that cut the lead to 61-49, but it was too late as Kelsie Dutton hit two free throws and Been connected on another trey that put it away in the final two minutes.

The Lady Evangels gained control early as Ashlee Ferguson hit two threes to spark a 9-0 spurt that gave MACU an 11-7 lead in the first half it wouldn't relinquish the rest of the game.

It was a five-point edge when another trey by Ferguson and a buzzer-beating three by Cheyenne Been put the Lady Evangels ahead by double-figures at 31-21 heading into the locker room.

In addition to her team-leading 18 points, Ferguson also had four assists and four steals.  Been scored 14 and hit four threes, while McKinney chipped in with 12 points.  Spatafora had a team-high five assists. 

Winston scored a game-high 26 points for the Lady Lions, with Shaquita Roberts and Kassy Cox each securing a game-high nine boards.

The Lady Evangels' were stingy defensively, limiting the Lady Lions to only 29.3 percent (17-of-58) from the field.

Next up the Lady Evangels will face a stern challenge at home next Thursday (Feb. 20) against No. 16-ranked John Brown  University at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.