NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – Three Apprentice School Lady Builders scored 12 points apiece as the hosts held off a feisty Rhema Bible College squad for a 68-57 victory in the opening game of the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Classic at Apprentice gym on Thursday night.

The Lady Builders jumped out to a 21-2 advantage as an Ashley Johnson jumper with 9:02 left in the first half gave them the advantage.  Apprentice School scored the last 16 points in that run holding Rhema Bible to a 1-for-15 performance in those first 11 minutes.

The Lady Eagles then went on a 19-4 run to cut the deficit to 25-21 with 2:24 left on a 3-pointer from Hannah Brim.  Apprentice School responded with five straight points pushing the lead back to nine on a layup from Tysheka Simpson with 81 seconds left to lead 30-21.

In the second half, the Apprentice School pushed the lead back to 11 points points on a Tyisha Battle jumper with 17:57 left to go ahead 38-27.  Rhema went on a 21-8 run over the next 10:07 to take their only lead of the game on a 3-pointer from Hannah Daniel with 7:50 left for a 48-46 advantage.

After a pair of Faniel free throws tied the game at 50-all with 6:39 left, Apprentice School went on a 15-4 run over the next 5:28 to go back up by 65-54 on a free throw from Denise Hamilton with 1:11 left and take the hard fought win.

Ashley Johnson, Battle and Hamilton scored 12 points each, while Tamara Davis recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.  Rhema was paced by Daniel with 28 points and 11 rebounds while Brim added 21.

Apprentice School will face Bennett College at 6 pm on Friday night in the second day of the MLK Classic, while Rhema Bible College faces Robert Morris University Springfield at 2 pm in the opening game of day two.

 In the opening men's game, Carl Dixon scored 25 points to pace three in double figures for Rhema Bible as they defeated Barber-Scotia 77-55.