KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Sarai Rodriguez set career highs with 32 points and 10 assists in leading the Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels to an 87-75 victory at the Avila University Eagles today (Dec. 31) in Kansas City, Mo. 

The Lady Evangels took control in the first quarter when a pair of threes by Lindsey Mann keyed a 12-3 spurt over the final 3:18 of the period that gave MACU a 21-13 lead after one. 

Mann then started the second quarter with a three and treys from Rodriguez and Laramie Ball put the Lady Evangels in front 32-18 at the midway point. 

The Eagles rallied within eight at the break at 40-32 and the Lady Evangels led by as many as 16 in the third quarter before settling for a 66-55 lead heading to the fourth period. 

After another trey by Mann gave the Lady Evangels their biggest lead of the game at 80-63 at the 3:36 mark, the Eagles fought back with eight straight points to cut the lead to nine when Rodriguez took over with eight straight points, including a three-point play with 1:14 left to ice the victory. 

Rodgriguez connected on 9-of-19 overall from the field, 3-of-6 from three-point distance and 11-of-12 from the charity stripe. Kelli Tolar also had a big night with a double-double of 26 points and 11 rebounds. Mann finished with 15 points in equaling her career-best of five threes in a game. 

Luci Sarcone paced the Eagles with 22 points and nine boards on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. 

The Lady Evangels will next compete at No. 5-ranked (NAIA D-II) College of the Ozarks Saturday afternoon (Jan. 2) at 3 p.m. in Point Lookout, Mo.