SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel University erased an early deficit against the Raven Women's Basketball team on Wednesday night to pick up the regular-season split against the Ravens.

The Crusaders outscored Benedictine (9-5, 7-3 Heart) 56-42 over the final three quarters to erase a 3-point first-quarter deficit and earn the 71-62 win.

With three ties and six lead changes in the 10 minutes of play, Wednesday's meeting looked to be headed toward another down-to-the-wire finish for the two teams. The Crusaders opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run that not only erased their deficit but pushed them ahead of the Ravens by 5 late in the second quarter.

Benedictine was limited to just 7 second-quarter points as Evangel pushed ahead at the half. After shooting 50 percent from the field in the first quarter, the Ravens connected on just 33 percent in the second quarter.

Despite the slow second quarter, the Ravens trailed by just four points at the break and never allowed the Crusaders to pull away in the third quarter. Benedictine finished with 17 points and cut their deficit down to just three points with 10 minutes left to play.

Benedictine used an 8-0 run midway through the fourth quarter to pull within a point, but that was all the closer they could get. Evangel connected on 8 of 8 from the free throw line in the final minute of play to finish the game hitting 90.9 from the free throw line to hold off the Ravens comeback effort.

Natalie Smaron finished the game with a double-double. She scored 18 points and pulled in 15 rebounds while Ali Brzozowski added 16 with Skylar Washington scoring 9.

Benedictine remains on the road Saturday with a rematch against Park University in Parkville, Mo. Tip off is scheduled for Noon.