OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Evangels hung around into the second half against the No. 2-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Oklahoma City University Stars, but the Stars eventually pulled away 84-66 for their 16th consecutive win in Sooner Athletic Conference action tonight (Feb. 5) inside the Gaulke Activity Center. 

The Lady Evangels scored the first five points of the game, only to have the Stars rip off a 20-2 outburst capped by consecutive treys by Rateska Brown. 

MACU got back into it with a 12-3 spurt of their own that cut the deficit down to 32-28 with 4:23 left in the opening half and the margin remained four at 36-32 at the break.

It was still a four-point game when the Stars methodically stretched the lead to 52-39 behind six points from Brown that keyed a 14-5 spurt at the 14:38 mark of the second half. 

After Lindsey Mann hit a three to bring the Lady Evangels within 10, two buckets by Ouleymatou Coulibaly sandwiched around a three by Kara Partridge extended the edge to 17 with 12:37 left. 

The Lady Evangels wouldn't go away and came within 13 on three occasions until the Stars used a 13-3 run that made it the largest lead of the game at 82-59 with 2:03 left.  

Alliyah Spatafora led the Lady Evangels (13-7, 6-5 SAC) with 13 points, followed by Ashlee Ferguson and Tierra Brown each with 12.  Mann and Felicia Foster each scored 10 with Foster registering a team-high four assists.  Alexia Kelley had a team-high five rebounds for MACU. 

Brown paced the Stars with a game-high 18 points, while Marisha Wallace added 14 points and a game-high seven boards.  Janay Borum scored 12 with a whopping 14 assists.  Coulibaly chipped in with 10 points.  

The Stars (16-1, 11-0 SAC) had their way on the glass, out-rebounding the Lady Evangels 46-27 overall with a 16-2 edge on the offensive boards.

The Lady Evangels will look to get back in the win column Saturday afternoon (Feb. 7) when they will host St. Gregory's University at 1 p.m.