The Basics

Final: Evangel 70, Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles 75 | Final Stats

Records: Evangel (0-1); Oklahoma Wesleyan (1-0)

Site: Ashcroft Center

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Valor WBB team opened the 2021-22 season facing off against a tough Oklahoma Wesleyan team on Friday night. Despite a good first quarter and a hard fought fourth, the end result would favor the Eagles on Friday, 70-75.

Led by Alexis Cauthon's 17 points, three Evangel players scored in double figures to push the Eagles to the brink, with Bayley Harman scoring 14 and Abby Wildermuth adding 13.

To begin the evening, Evangel would use a 10-0 run over a two-minute stretch to build a 12-2 advantage, as four different players scored during the run. Alexis Roach and Wildermuth sank back-to-back 3-point field goals as part of the early run. EU would shoot 0.625 (10-of-16) from the floor and outscore the Eagles by a 16-4 margin in the paint in the opening quarter, but Makayla Watkins would keep the Eagles in the game. Watkins hit on 3-of-4 attempts from beyond the arc in the opening quarter, to keep the game at 22-16 in favor of the Valor.

In the second quarter, Watkins would get the Eagles back into things as she hit both of her long-range tries in the second period. OKWU turned in a 10-0 run of its own to wipe out a 26-18 EU advantage and would outscore the Valor by a 21-11 margin in the second, to take a 37-33 lead into the half. EU was limited to 4-of-19 (0.211) shooting overall in the period, with Roach leading the Valor with nine first-half points, while Cauthon scored eight on 4-of-5 shooting.

The third quarter saw the Eagles attempt to break things open, but the Valor would fight hard to keep the game close. OKWU extended its lead to as many as eight points in the third, as Watkins tallied seven additional points. EU would only shoot 5-of-16 from the floor in the third quarter, but would keep the game within reach, trailing 49-56 at the end of the third.

The fourth quarter showed the Valor's grit and tenacity on the floor. Instead of laying down, the Valor would fight to keep the game close. EU would pull to within 72-70 on a Wildermuth 3-pointer with 0:37 to play, then had a chance to tie on a Sparks three from the left wing with 0:25 to play, but the shot was off the mark. EU had started 13-of-13 at the free throw line before missing three straight attempts late in the fourth period which ultimately hurt the Valor's chances to mount the comeback, and would keep the final score at 70-75.

EU started 10-of-16 but hit just 15 of their last 48 shots from the floor. OKWU's Watkins finished with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-11 shooting (6-of-8 from 3FG). Cauthon led EU with 17 points (7-of-10 shooting). Wildermuth added 13 on 3-of-4 shooting from 3FG, as well as three assists and two steals. Harman added 14 points and seven rebounds. EU committed 23 turnovers, which OKWU converted into 29 points and OKWU's bench outscored EU's, 28-12.

UP NEXT

Evangel will look for their first win of the season under Coach Beverly on Nov. 2nd at John Brown University at 7:05 p.m.

For the latest information on Evangel Athletics, visit Facebook at Facebook.com/EvangelValor, Twitter (@EvangelValor), or EvangelAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on their favorite EU teams by downloading the Evangel Athletics Gameday App through the App Store or Google Play.  

—#OneValor—