The Basics

Score: Evangel 71, Park 59 

Location: Parkville, Mo. (Breckon Sports Center) 

Records: Evangel (8-10, 7-6), Park (4-14, 2-11) 

Box Score 

PARKVILLE, Mo. -- After dropping a pair of tough close matches to William Penn and Central Methodist, Evangel hit the road, looking for the season sweep of Heart South foe, Park, on Thursday. The Valor put forth a strong effort, outscoring the Pirates in every quarter, taking the win 71-59. 

Park came out strong on offense, taking an early 7-2 lead in the first minute and a half of the quarter. Evangel used a 9-0 run to take the lead, but quick baskets by Park evened the score at 11 apiece with 4:14 left in the quarter. A 6-0 run for the Valor from Sophie Sparks and Giah Moore pushed the Valor ahead and gave Evangel a lead that they retained for the remainder of the night. By the end of the first quarter, the Valor led, 19-14.

The Evangel defense showed up in the second quarter, allowing just 10 points for the Pirates. At the 3:14 mark, the Valor had a 30-18 lead on a Lyla Watson basket in the paint, giving Evangel their largest lead of the quarter. Park was able to slightly narrow the Valor lead, but a buzzer-beating three pointer by Jazzy Kirby extended the Valor lead to 33-24 at the halftime break.

Evangel had their highest offensive output in the third quarter, scoring 20 points and grabbed their largest lead of the night at 18 points on two separate occasions. Baskets by Sadie Chisum and Kohnnar Patton pushed the Valor out to these leads, but Park dwindled the Valor lead down to just 11 at the end of the quarter, 53-42, thanks to an 11-4 run to end the period.

The Valor and Pirates engaged in a back and forth fourth quarter where neither team could gain hardly any advantage. Evangel ultimately outscored Park by a single point in the final quarter with a Paiton Acord free throw being the final point scored en route to the 71-59 Valor victory.

NOTABLE 

• Kirby led the Valor with 18 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor in the win.

• Moore also scored in double figures, finishing with 10 points and seven rebounds.

• Alexis Roach pulled down a team high nine rebounds.

• Evangel and Park both finished with 19 turnovers, but Evangel capitalized on more, scoring 26 points off turnovers to Park's 13. 

NEXT UP 

Evangel will return home to host Missouri Valley, looking to even the season series after falling to the Vikings on the road. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (Jan. 21) afternoon 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.  

—#OneValor—