The Basics

Final: Evangel 63, Baker 54 | Final Stats

Records: Evangel (7-7); Baker (6-8)

Site: Ashcroft Center

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel returned home to take on a Baker team that was on a two game conference winning streak. Fueled by great defensive play in which the Valor forced 27 Baker turnovers, the Valor were able to come away with a hard fought 63-54 victory.

The Valor continued their trend of low scoring first quarters. The Wildcats would score their first two points off of free throws while Abby Wildermuth would kick off the game for the Valor with a three point basket. Zoey Mullings would then hit a free throw for the Valor at the 8:35 mark. After the made free throw, both teams would hit a cold spell. Neither team would score another basket until the 3:49 mark when Baker's Sophia Barrett would nail a jumper to tie the game up. The Baker jumper would spur a quick 5-0 run for the Wildcats, but Evangel would turn around and go on a 7-2 run of their own to take an 11-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Logan Jones and Wildermuth led EU with 3 points apiece.

The second quarter would begin favoring the Valor. EU would outscore Baker 8-5 in the first four minutes of the quarter off of baskets from Bayley Harman and Alexis Cauthon, as well as free throws from Alexis Roach. The Wildcats would narrow down the score and take the lead with 4:52 remaining in the quarter, but the Valor would get chances from the charity stripe to retake the lead. Evangel would only score free throws in the final 5:30 minutes of the quarter, but it would be enough for EU to take a 32-26 lead into the locker room. Mullings would lead all scorers with 8 points at halftime.

In the third, EU would begin the quarter by extending their lead. A Harman layup followed by a Wildermuth three would give the Valor an 11 point lead. Although the Valor would start the quarter hot, they would soon cool down, and Baker would take advantage. The Wildcats would manufacture an 11-0 run to tie the game in the span of nearly five minutes. Evangel would stop the Baker run with a Jones jumper, but both teams would begin to trade baskets. By the end of the quarter, EU would hold the lead by a slim two point margin, 46-44. Harman would lead all scorers with 12 points at the buzzer.

The fourth quarter would be a battle for both teams, but for every basket that Baker would make, Evangel would have an answer. With 3:56 remaining, Katelyn Cole for the Wildcats would hit a three to narrow the Valor lead to just two points, but a quick Valor 6-0 run would give EU an eight point lead that would never be contested. By the time the buzzer sounded, EU would claim the victory, 63-54.

"This was another great team win! No matter the location, conference wins aren't easy to get," Valor head coach Preston Beverly stated, "I'm really proud of how this group has taken on the program's new physical and aggressive approach to defense. Being among the top 10 in the country in forced turnovers has been a statistic this program will always look to hang its hat on. We look forward to this upcoming break and regrouping after the New Year to finish out the conference season strong."

Harman led Evangel with 15 points and Wildermuth rounded out the double digit scoring with 10. Roach led the Valor with 9 rebounds. Harman would prove to be a huge factor on the defensive end, coming up with 7 steals.

UP NEXT

Evangel will return home after the holiday break and kick off 2022, taking on UHSP at 5:30 on January 3rd in the Ashcroft Center.

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.  

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