OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Despite 20 points from Nicole Gleason, the more aggressive Mid-America Christian Lady Evangels (15-5, 9-5 SAC) stole a 72-60 victory from the Texas Wesleyan Lady Rams (10-12, 8-6 SAC) Thursday night at MACU.

Tied after one and at the half, the Lady Evangels outscored the Lady Rams 41-29 in the second half. Gleason hit four threes, pulling down five rebounds and wrestling away five steals - a season high. Gleason's 37 steals have now topped her 36 she had in the 2017-2018 run. She led an effort that forced 20 turnovers, turning into 20 points off of turnovers. Kyla Grant got a team-high 36 minutes and eight rebounds - including four on the offensive end. Lorian Benjamin had five of the team's 10 assists all in 16 minutes of action. Evie Whorley net 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

MACU managed to reach the line 20 times, while Texas Wesleyan took just three trips there. While MACU made just 13 from the line, it was one of the differences in the game. 

The Lady Rams started red hot, led by Gleason. Number 30 hit the team's first shot of the game, putting TXWES up 3-0. Evie Whorley hit another three two shots later to go up 6-2. Gleason got a fastbreak bucket and then hit another three to put the Rams up 11-5 six minutes in and she just kept scoring. 15 - yes, 15 - of her points came in the first quarter. MACU bottled her up in the second frame. She managed to only get one shot off as the Lady Evangels blanketed her. If they hadn't done something to stop her, they most certainly would have had major troubles.

Whorley attempted to fill the scoring gap in the third quarter. She scored the first five of the stanza with the Lady Rams trailing 38-36 ... then the Evangels pulled away. A 12-4 run built a 50-38 edge and while Gleason hit a three at the end of the third to cut the deficit to eight - 51-43 - it would be the closest the Lady Rams got to a comeback. 

Lexi Burns scored seven while Karah Sicurella added seven off the bench. Bailey Broadnax and Tomi Sanchez - still getting worked back into the rotation - earned 28 minutes.

RAMBLINGS
It was Gleason's fifth 20+ point game of her career at Texas Wesleyan and her highest point-total against MACU in five meetings. She's hit multiple threes in six-straight contests. 

Six of the team's last seven losses have come by 12 points or less.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Lady Rams travel back home to face University of Science and Arts Oklahoma Saturday February 2 at 2 p.m. A victory would be Texas Wesleyan's seventh at home, which would be the second-most home triumphs in a season in the last six seasons. The season series is dead even at 10 wins apiece.