By MICKEL PONTHIEUX / Sports Reporter 

BIRMINGHAM – The Hope Christian Lady Eagles overcame a slow start and held off a late charge by the Evangel Christian Lightning for a 37-30 victory in both teams’ season opener on Nov. 12 at Samford University.

Hope Christian (1-0) trailed 9-4 after the first quarter, but came alive in the second. The Lady Eagles scored nine unanswered points to take a 15-12 lead in at the half.

Evangel’s Bethany Letson hit two big three’s for the Lightning to start the third to close within one, 19-18. Hope answered with a 10-0 run at the end of the period to take a 31-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Lightning (0-1) went on a 10-3 run to start the fourth quarter to close the gap to four, 34-30 with under three minutes remaining. That would be as close as Evangel would be able to get as Hope outscored the Lightning 3-0 in the final two minutes to secure the 37-30 victory.

Hope’s Lindy Walker led all scorers with 12 points. Karlee Tate added nine points for the Lady Eagles.

Lacey Entrelin led Evangel with seven points while Letson finished with six points.