FAYETTE, Mo. – The No. 23 Central Methodist University women's basketball team got out to a big first half lead and stayed away from Evangel, beating the Crusaders 87-45 in Puckett Field House.

The Eagles (15-6, 11-4 Heart) showcased a lockdown defense, surrendering the least amount of points since December 2017, holding Evangel to a mere 21.9 shooting percentage from the field.

The game was close for much of the first quarter until CMU put together a 7-0 run in the final two minutes of play. That momentum carried over into the second quarter, as the Eagles kept Evangel from scoring for nearly six minutes, outscoring the Crusaders 18-6 in the period.

In the second half, the Central Methodist lead never dipped below 16 points as the Eagles won both quarters and sunk four three-pointers.

Tatiana Grant (SR/Milwaukee, Wis.) led the way off of the bench with a double-double, boasting 22 points and 10 rebounds. Mercedes Jefflo (JR/Compton, Calif.) totaled 17 points, nearly missing a triple-double by adding nine rebounds and eight assists. Jazmin Shields (SR/Wylie, Tex.) rounded out the top scorers, matching a career-high with 11 points and a perfect 5-for-5 performance from the field.

The Eagles will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 24, with a road trip to Benedictine. Game time is set for 5:30 pm.