The Basics
Score: Evangel 87, Oakland City 55
Records: Evangel (2-0), Oakland City (0-1)
Location: Johnson Center

Box Score

OAKLAND CITY, Ind. – Behind another strong defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack, the Evangel women's basketball team improved to 2-0 on the season with an 87-55 road victory over Oakland City Saturday afternoon at the Johnson Center.

The Crusaders torched the nets all afternoon, connecting on 53.2 percent (33-of-62) of their attempts from the floor, as four players posted double-digit scoring afternoons. Alexis Roach paced EU with 14 points, while Brianna Vogts added 13 points and team-highs of 10 rebounds and three steals.

EU led from start to finish, taking control of the game with a 9-0 run, sparked by Alexis Cauthon's jumper at the 7:20 mark of the first period. Roach added a layup, before Zoey Mullings scored five straight EU points to make it a 14-3 contest.

OCU pulled to within eight moments later, but Vogts grabbed an offensive board and converted the first of two-straight baskets in the paint to make it a 13-point game with just under two minutes left in the quarter.

A Baylee Harman three-pointer and another Cauthon bucket in the final 61 seconds extended the EU lead to 28-12.

The Crusaders methodically stretched their advantage by knocking down 17-of-30 first-half field goal attempts to take a 43-25 lead into intermission. Nine different Crusaders broke into the scoring column in the opening half, led by Vogts' seven points.

The duo of Vogts and Roach picked up where they left off to start the third period, combining to score the first 11 EU points of the second half as part of a 13-1 run that extended the lead to 30 points.

The Mighty Oaks would get no closer than 24 the rest of the way, as EU stretched its lead to as many as 39 in registering its second 2-0 start to a season in head coach Megan Leuzinger's three seasons at the helm.

The Crusaders outscored OCU by a 50-20 margin in the paint, and got 41 points from their bench.

Defensively, EU held the Mighty Oaks to 0.228 (13-of-57) shooting, including a 3-for-20 (0.150) showing from beyond the three-point arc.

In addition to her 14-points, Roach pulled down seven boards, while Mullings added 12 points and seven rebounds and Sophie Sparks tallied 11 points.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders will put their perfect start on the line next Saturday (Nov. 14), when they travel to St. Louis for a 2 p.m. contest against Harris-Stowe.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, follow the Crusaders on Facebook at Facebook.com/EUAthletics, Twitter (@EUAthletics), or visit EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the new Evangel Crusaders GamedayApp through Google Play. 

—EvangelAthletics.com—