The Basics

Final: Evangel 69, Baker 63 | Final Stats

Records: Evangel (14-11, 10-5); Baker (7-17, 3-12)

Site: Collins Center

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Evangel wrapped up their two game road trip on Monday evening, looking to sweep the Wildcats in their season matchup. The Valor played well defensively, holding Baker to just 34 percent shooting, and brought home the victory, 69-63.

Evangel displayed outstanding defense in the first quarter, limiting the Wildcats to just five points in the first ten minutes. Evangel began the game on a 6-0 run until Baker hit a layup with 8 minutes remaining to make the score, 6-2. Over the next four minutes, both teams hit a dry spell, as neither team scored any points until Makayla McVay scored a layup for EU. Baker spent nearly eight minutes without scoring another basket, thanks to defensive stops by the Valor. Baker's Leah Van Weelden hit a jumper with 25 seconds remaining for their last field goal of the first quarter, giving EU a 12-5 lead at the end of the quarter.

Evangel kicked off the second quarter just as they did the first with a 6-0 run. Baker matched with a 6-0 run of their own and both teams began to trade baskets and free throws. By the end of the quarter, each team had scored 15 points, to give EU a 27-20 halftime lead. Abby Wildermuth and Kohnnar Patton led EU with five points each.

The Valor snapped their streak of cold third quarters, hitting 50 percent of their shots from the field in the quarter and scoring 19 points, despite not scoring a field goal until the 6:29 mark of the quarter. Zoey Mullings knocked in six points for EU in the quarter alone and also handed off three assists. EU's offense gave the Valor a 46-37 lead at the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter, Baker fought to close the Evangel lead. Wildermuth hit a three to start the quarter and Evangel extended their lead to 14 points, but Baker fought back. A Baker 11-1 run narrowed the Valor lead to just four. Evangel extended their lead back to nine points, but Baker would not go away, again narrowing the lead down to just three with 35 seconds remaining. From there, each team traded baskets. Baker hit a layup to dwindle EU's lead to two points, but this was the closest Baker could get, as Wildermuth and Mullings nailed free throws down the stretch to put the game away, 69-63.

The Valor were led by Wildermuth who finished the evening with her second consecutive 16 point game. Mullings rounded out double digit scoring for EU, scoring 13 points. Sarah Lwambo pulled down a team high 13 rebounds and Mullings passed off four assists.

UP NEXT

Evangel will return home to take on the current first place team in the Heart South in Central Methodist on Wednesday (Feb. 9). Tipoff is set for 5:30 pm 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 (https://eu-gameday.app.link/launch).

—#OneValor—