Box Score The Basics
Score: No. 8 Clarke 66, Evangel 49
Records: Evangel (13-10); Clarke (19-2)
Location: Kehl Center
Box Score
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Clarke turned in a shutdown second-half defensive effort and a big fourth-quarter scoring run to withstand a stiff challenge from Evangel in a 66-49 Heart Conference Tournament quarterfinal decision over the Crusaders Wednesday evening at the Kehl Center.
Evangel gave the eighth-ranked Pride all it wanted until a late 18-3 CU scoring outburst proved more than the Crusaders could overcome. Clarke held EU scoreless for over eight minutes in the fourth period, scoring nine unanswered points to turn a two-point lead into a 57-46 advantage.
Bayley Harman logged her 12th consecutive double-figure scoring performance with 12 points, none bigger than the junior's bucket in the paint with 8:21 left in regulation that pulled EU to within 48-46.
But Makenna Haase scored five straight points for the Pride, which limited the Crusaders to 14 second-half points in all.
Nicole McDermott, who scored six of her game-high 17 points during CU's critical fourth-period run, recorded a double-double, pulling down 10 rebounds while going 10-of-12 from the foul line. Haase finished with 15 points, while Morgan Pitz added 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
Evangel enjoyed a strong start to the contest, hitting eight of its first 12 field-goal attempts to build an 11-point first-period lead. Abby Oliver drained her first two three-point attempts en route to an 11-point first half.
But the Pride turned in a 7-0 scoring run to close the quarter, trimming its deficit to 22-18. Clarke continued its comeback at the onset of the second quarter, scoring 10 of the first 15 points and taking a 28-27 lead on a Pitz triple with 5:50 left on the clock.
CU took a two-point lead into intermission, then turned to its defense to gain control of the contest in the third quarter. Evangel missed its first six field-goal tries of the half and scored just four points total in the third.
A pair of Pitz buckets, combined with a Tina Ubl three-pointer, handed the Pride a 48-39 lead—its largest of the game to that point—to close the period.
EU responded by scoring the first seven points of the fourth, including five straight by Sophie Sparks to open the quarter. Following Harman's basket that pulled the Crusaders to within two, EU would miss its next 11 shots from the floor, allowing CU to pull away late.
The Crusaders finished the game just 17-of-62 (0.274) from the field, including a 1-of-13 effort from beyond the arc in the second half.
Oliver finished with a team-high 14 points for EU, while Sparks added 12 points.
The Crusaders finished the 2020-21 season with a 13-10 overall record, marking their third-consecutive winning campaign under head coach Megan Leuzinger.
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—
