The Basics
Score: Evangel 87, Missouri Valley 62
Records: Evangel (8-6, 6-5), Missouri Valley (8-11, 5-10)
Location: Ashcroft Center

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Evangel women's basketball team heated up the Ashcroft Center with a decisive 23-2 scoring run en route to a convincing 87-62 Heart of America Athletic Conference victory over Missouri Valley Wednesday evening.

Leading by one point midway through the second period, the Crusaders caught fire to score 14 of the next 15 points to take control of the contest. EU was just getting started, drilling nine-consecutive field goal tries in the third quarter to extend its lead to as many as 32 points.

Bayley Harman's 20 points led a contingent of four double-digit scorers for Evangel, which connected on a season-high 12 three-point attempts and converted 34-of-71 (0.479) field goal tries overall to earn the season sweep of the Vikings.

"I'm proud of the girls for coming out tonight and stringing together four solid quarters," EU head coach Megan Leuzinger said. "We were consistent on both ends of the floor and played really well together. It is nice to be back home and playing in front of friends and family." 

Evangel forged ahead midway through the opening period, using hot starts from Harman and Logan Jones to build a seven-point lead. The duo combined for 17 of EU's 22 points in the quarter, as the Crusaders converted four-straight field goal attempts—including three in a row by Jones—to offset the Vikings' 50-percent shooting effort.

MVC scored eight of the first 10 points of the second period, thanks four of Ariel Miller's nine first-half points, slicing the EU lead to 24-23 with just under six minutes remaining on the clock.

But the Crusaders responded in a big way, getting back-to-back three-pointers by Abby Oliver and Kohnnar Patton to spark a run that would see Evangel tally 14 of the final 16 points of the half. A Zoey Mullings bucket, followed by a pair of Jones free throws and baskets by Alexis Roach and Oliver capped the spurt that helped send EU to the locker room with a 38-25 cushion.

Jones went 3-for-3 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the opening 20 minutes, while Harman scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals.

Evangel kept the pressure on to start the second half, with a Brianna Vogts turnaround at the 9:25 mark starting a 9-0 run. Both Harman and Patton would drain two triples apiece during the Crusaders' string of nine-straight makes that would ultimately extend the margin to 60-34.

The Crusaders would shoot 0.750 (12-of-16) in the third quarter, including a 6-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc.

EU, which forced 32 MVC turnovers in the contest, stretched its advantage to as many as 36 points in the closing minutes of the contest, before the Vikings ended the game by scoring 13 of the final 15 points.

Jones completed her perfect night, finishing 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 at the foul line to total 18 points, and both Patton and Oliver turned in 12-point performances. Harman added a team-high six boards, four assist and three steals while shooting 8-of-15.

Miller and Hannah Stephens led the Vikings with 16 points apiece, while Blanca Alcalde added 12 points.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders continue their three-game homestand with a Saturday (Jan. 23) non-conference matchup against No. 15 Sterling College. Tipoff from the Ashcroft Center is set for 2 p.m.

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—