OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels gave the defending NAIA National Champion and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma City University Stars all they wanted for a half, but the Stars flexed their muscle in the second to pull away for an 80-66 win today (Jan. 10) at Abe Lemons Arena on the OCU campus. 

The Lady Evangels trailed by only one at the half but the Stars wasted little time taking control in the second stanza.  

Ouleymatou Coulibaly scored seven points of a second-half opening 13-0 run that suddenly put the Stars in front 50-36 at the 13:13 mark of the second half. 

After Lakota Thompson scored to stop the run, the Stars ran off nine straight points to balloon the lead to 57-38 with 11:28 left. 

The Lady Evangels (9-4, 2-2 SAC) didn't go quietly though as three free throws by Alliyah Spatafora and a three from Felica Foster capped a 7-0 spurt to cut the lead to 57-45. 

It was still a 12-point game when an 8-0 run by the Stars put it away with 4:41 remaining. 

MACU got off to a good start as a three by D'Shala Culberson and consecutive treys from Foster helped the Lady Evangels build a 28-21 edge at the 6:56 mark of the opening half. 

The Lady Evangels led by four when the Stars used an 8-1 push to take a three-point lead and then took a 37-36 lead at the break. 

Alexia Kelley posted her eighth double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lady Evangels.  Foster scored 15, while Spatafora also had 15 points along with a game-high six assists.  

Coulibaly had game-highs of 18 points and 15 boards to lead the Stars (9-1, 4-0 SAC).  Yvonte Neal scored 16 points and Catherine Kruschke added 15. 

The Lady Evangels will next return home and host Wayland Baptist University next Thursday evening (Jan. 15) at 6 p.m. inside the Gaulke Activity Center.