OKLAHOMA CITY – The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels held off a second half surge by the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Drovers to win 70-63 in a Sooner Athletic Conference matchup today (Feb. 4) inside the Gaulke Activity Center.
MACU led by nine at the half and appeared to be pulling away when they opened the third quarter with seven points and then twice extended the edge to a game-high 17 points.
The Drovers came roaring back behind eight points from Dierra Ely and outscored the Lady Evangels 14-2 over the final 6:15 of the third quarter to come within 55-50.
Things remained tight in the fourth quarter, with the Drovers pulling even on three occasions, the last time at 59-59 with 3:16 left.
But each time the Drovers had a chance to take the lead, the Lady Evangels found a way to rebuff their efforts and took the lead for good on a free throw by Jamie Lamb and then two freebies from D'Shala Powell that created a 62-59 lead with 2:18 remaining.
Leading by just one point, consecutive buckets from Sarai Rodriguez and Powell gave the Lady Evangels some breathing room at 66-61 before three free throws from Nevada Denton finished off the win.
The Lady Evangels got off to a slow start offensively, but Denton quickly amended that with a pair of treys and a three-point play to spark a 14-1 burst that put MACU up by double-figures at 16-6 with 2:11 left in the opening quarter.
MACU led 20-13 after the first period and once a Jocelyn Jeffrey three brought the Drovers within four, Mikki Flores (five points) and Rodriguez (four points) teamed up to score all nine points of a 9-2 run that pushed the lead to 34-23.
A three-point play by Flores stretched the lead to 12 before Shaylynn Bass answered with a three for the Drovers as the half expired to make the score 39-30 heading into the break.
Rodriguez led all scorers with 25 points and also had seven rebounds along with a team-high four assists.
Flores scored 15 and Denton finished with 14 points. Powell recorded a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Ely paced the Drovers with a double-double of 20 points and 15 boards while also producing a team-best four assists. Darian Hill added 10 points for USAO.
The Lady Evangels overcame a 57-41 deficit on the glass by stifling USAO into only 29.7 percent (22-of-74) overall and but 10.3 percent (3-of-29) from the perimeter.
The Lady Evangels have now won two straight and will next travel to Plainview, Texas to play at No. 16-ranked Wayland Baptist University Thursday evening (Feb. 9) at 6 pm.
