The Basics
Score: Grand View 67, Evangel 56
Records: Evangel (12-8, 10-7); Grand View (17-6, 13-5)
Location: Ashcroft Center

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Grand View used a decisive first-half scoring run and a lock-down defensive effort to stop Evangel's four-game win streak with a 67-56 victory over the Crusaders Saturday afternoon at the Ashcroft Center.

Led by Shannon Pisney's 18 points, the Vikings built a 20-point first-half lead and held EU to 19-of-55 (0.345) shooting to secure the road victory. GVU connected on 7-of-10 three-point tries to start the afternoon, outscoring the Crusaders 25-3 over an eight-minute stretch in the opening half that turned a four-point deficit into a 28-10 advantage for the visitors.

EU mounted a second-half comeback that saw the Crusaders cut their deficit to eight points with just under four minutes to play.

But the GVU defense delivered in the clutch, forcing six straight Evangel misses from the field while holding the Crusaders scoreless for more than three minutes to thwart any further thoughts of a come-from-behind victory.

Pisney finished 5-of-8 from three-point range, while Brianda Bane added 13 points for the Vikings.

Grand View seized control of contest midway through the opening period, wiping out an early 7-3 Evangel advantage with an 11-1 scoring run. Bane's three-pointer with 4:17 left in the quarter ignited a Vikings' outburst that ultimately left the Crusaders in an 18-point hole.

The Vikings opened the second quarter with another offensive flurry, as four different players contributed field goals during a 12-0 spurt. Pisney knocked down a jumper at the 7:37 mark to make it a 10-point game, then followed a Natalie Rigatuso trey with a three-pointer from the right wing to extend the margin to 26-10.

Grand View stretched its lead to as many as 21 points, before taking a 38-20 lead into halftime. Pisney led all scorers with 11 first-half points. The Vikings stifled the Evangel offense for most of the opening half, limiting the Crusaders 0.250 (6-of-24) shooting and forcing nine turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play.

Bayley Harman provided nearly half of EU's offense, going 5-of-6 at the charity stripe to total nine first-half points.

Pisney buried two more triples in the first five minutes of the third period to help push the GVU lead back to 20.

But Evangel's offense heated up over the second half of the period, as five different Crusaders scored during a 13-4 run that sliced the Vikings lead to 11. Kohnnar Patton and Sophie Sparks connected from long range to start the surge, and Alexis Roach scored in the paint to trim the lead to 12 points.

Zoey Mullings then answered a GVU bucket with a long three from the top of the key to make it a 51-40 contest. Trailing 57-41 with just under eight minutes left on the clock, Harman's bucket started a 6-0 EU run, and Brianna Vogts' three-point play at the 3:57 mark pulled the Crusaders to within 61-53.

It would be all Grand View from that point, however. Maddie Ahlstrom converted a pair of free throws and Bane scored in the paint to extend the lead back to double-digits. EU wouldn't score again until an Abby Oliver three-pointer with 49 seconds left on the clock.

Harman led Evangel with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Vogts narrowly missed her eighth double-double of the season, totaling nine points and nine boards for the Crusaders.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders continue their three-game home stand Monday (Feb. 15) evening with a 5:30 p.m., Heart Conference contest against Graceland at the Ashcroft Center.

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—