The Basics

Score: Evangel 72, Friends 87 

Location: Bartlesville, Okla. (Mueller Sports Center) 

Records: Evangel (0-1); Friends (2-0) 

Box Score 

BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. - The Valor women's basketball team opened their season by competing in the OKWU Classic, taking on KCAC school Friends University. The Falcons shot a strong 55.6 percent from the floor as the Valor could not keep up with Friends, who claimed 22 victories last season, falling 87-72.

The first quarter proved to be a strong battle between both teams. After Evangel grabbed an early 4-3 lead on two Alexis Roach jumpers, Friends Rayland Garner used a run of her own, scoring eight points in the quarter to give the Falcons an early 19-14 lead heading into the second quarter.

Friends caught fire in the second and third quarters, scoring in bunches as Evangel cooled down from the floor. An Alexis Cauthon score in the second quarter made it just a three point deficit for the Valor, but Friends ended the half on a 12-0 run, taking a 43-28 lead into the half. The Valor were outscored in the third quarter by 10 points and shot just 21 percent in the quarter alone as the Falcons continued to extend their lead, 67-42 at the end of the third.

In the final quarter of the night, Evangel showed their tenacity, not allowing Friends to extend their lead. The Valor used two key runs of 11-2 and 8-1 to narrow the Falcons lead in the final quarter. With 29 seconds remaining, an Emma Mullings free throw narrowed the Friends lead to just 13 points, as Evangel fell, 87-72.

NOTABLE 

• Senior Sophie Sparks led Evangel with 12 points in the loss.

• Freshman Emma Mullings scored 11 points in her first collegiate contest of her career.

• Sophomore Micah Clayton pulled down a team high six rebounds in her first game with Evangel.

• Evangel tallied 15 total assists in the match.

NEXT UP 

Evangel will conclude the OKWU Classic tomorrow (Nov. 5) afternoon at 2:00 p.m. against host school Oklahoma Wesleyan.

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—