The Basics

Final: Evangel 80, UHSP 86 | Final Stats

Records: Evangel (7-8); UHSP (9-5)

Site: O'Reilly Family Event Center

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel kicked off the year 2022 hosting UHSP, looking to avenge their previous loss this season. Unfortunately for the Valor, they would fall short of the comeback bid, 80-86.

The Eutectics would find the scoreboard first in the ball game, as Grace Beyer would knock down a jumper, followed by a Elizabeth Allanach layup. Leading 4-0, the Valor would hit their first shot of the game, thanks to free throws by Zoey Mullings. Both offenses would find a spark and trade baskets throughout the quarter. Evangel would go on a 5-0 run to take a 16-10 lead, but a 12-5 UHSP run would give the Eutectics a 22-21 lead at the end of the first quarter. Harman led all Valor scorers with 6 points at the end of the first.

The second quarter would continue the back and forth battle between EU and UHSP. Every run Evangel went on would be countered by a UHSP run of their own. A Sadie Chisum jumper would cause EU to trail 34-35, but unfortunately for the Valor, the Eutectics would go on a run. UHSP would sink three consecutive threes to further their lead at the half, 38-46. Mullings led all Evangel scorers at half with 8 points. Samantha Matthews would pace the UHSP scoring with 17 points on 6-6 shooting to lead all scorers.

In the third, the Eutectics would begin to extend their lead over the Valor. Leading 50-40, EU would go on a run to narrow the UHSP lead. Kohnnar Patton would fuel a 6-0 Valor run on her own, and Alexis Cauthon would tack on a layup to pull the Valor within two points. UHSP would return down the court and a foul would be called on a Eutectic three, killing the Valor run. Elizabeth Allanach would hit all three free throws, and then hit a crucial three on the next possession, to re-extend their lead to 8. Back and forth scoring would end the third quarter with UHSP on top, 58-65. Sophie Sparks led EU in scoring with 10 points at the end of the third. 

The fourth quarter would be a battle for both teams, but UHSP would come out hot, extending their lead to 13 points with 5:33 remaining in the game. But, the Valor would not go down without a fight. Baskets by Alexis Roach, Bayley Harman, Logan Jones, and Chisum would dwindle the Eutectic lead to just 4 with :41 seconds remaining. Unluckily, the Valor would miss shots on the offensive end and Grace Beyer for the Eutectics would not miss free throws, and UHSP would escape Springfield with a 80-86 victory.

The Valor were led by Mullings who finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds. Chisum would pace the Valor attack with 12 points and 4 assists, while Sparks rounded out double digit scorers with 10 points. UHSP were led by the duo of Beyer (32 points, 17-20 from FT) and Matthews (26 points, 8-11 from three).

UP NEXT

Evangel will return to the Ashcroft Center to take on conference foe Park at 5:30 pm on Wednesday evening.

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—