The Mount Mercy women's basketball team put up a good fight in the  first half Saturday, but the second half belonged entirely to Evangel.

Evangel blistered the Mustangs by 24 points in the second half for a  77-56 victory in the Heart of America Conference opener at the  Hennessey Recreation Center.

Mount Mercy led 31-28 at halftime, but the visitors owned the second  half 49-25.

Brianna Thomas scored 13 points for Mount Mercy (1-3, 0-1). Kyleigh  Milan added 10 points. Sofia Popp collected five assists and Taseandra  Parker grabbed seven rebounds.

Brianna Vogts scored 22 points for Evangel (2-2, 1-0).

EVANGEL (77): Sadie Chisum 1-4 0-0 2, Lexie Vaught 4-7 4-4 13, Kylee  Moore 4-6 0-0 10, Brianna Vogts 11-16 0-0 22, Alexis Cauthon 3-8 1-2  8, Desi Ennes 1-1 0-0 2, Courtney Austin 1-4 0-0 2, Alexis Roach 1-4  0-0 2, Bayley Harman 1-7 1-2 3, Taylor Arnold 1-3 0-0 2, Emma Lander  3-5 0-0 6, Baylee Bilyeu 0-2 1-2 1, Anne Marie Anibal 2-6 0-0 4,  Harley Maxwell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 33-74 7-10 77.

MOUNT MERCY (56): Brianna Thomas 4-15 2-2 13, Sofia Popp 3-12 1-2 7,  Kyleigh Milan 5-5 0-0 10, Paris Sheck 1-1 0-2 2, Grace Stalzer 3-3 0-0  6, Abbi Kinnaird 2-3 0-0 5, Aliyah Robinson 0-1 0-0 0, Chailey Cabalis  0-2 5-9 5, Taseandra Parker 3-6 0-0 6, Aleah Cook 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Popp  0-0 0-0 0, Kennedi Fylwylie 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 21-51 10-17 56.

Halftime - Mount Mercy 31, Evangel 28. 3-point goals - Evangel 4-22  (Moore 2-3, Vaught 1-2, Cauthon 1-4, Chisum 0-1, Roach 0-1, Austin  0-2, Anibal 0-2, Arnold 0-2, Harman 0-5), Mount Mercy 4-15 (Thomas  3-9, Kinnaird 1-2, S.Popp 0-4).