The Basics

Score: Evangel 54, (14) UCM 66

Location: Warrensburg, Mo. (Multipurpose Building)

Box Score

WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- Valor Women's Basketball traveled to Warrensburg, on Friday (Dec. 29) afternoon, looking to pull off the upset exhibition win against the Jennies of UCM. The Valor would hang tough with the nationally ranked Division 2 squad, but ultimately fall, 54-66, in exhibition play.

Evangel would be outscored, 19-10, in the first quarter. Lydia Babirye would score four points to help keep the Valor within reach as Kate Gilbert, Micah Clayton, and Lexi Berry all recorded baskets in the quarter.

The Valor offense began to heat up in the second quarter. Evangel outscored the Jennies, 20-10, in the quarter, taking a 30-29 lead into the halftime break against the nationally ranked Jennies. Four three pointers in the quarter proved to be the difference maker as the Valor grabbed the lead.

An 8-0 Evangel run to open the third quarter pushed the Valor ahead, 38-29, against the Jennies. UCM would get hot late in the quarter, using a 11-2 run to tie the game heading into the final quarter, 40-40.

UCM proved why their national ranking in the fourth and final quarter, out scoring Evangel, 26-14, in the frame. Every Valor basket was matched with a basket of UCM's own, as EU just fell short of the upset against the Jennies, 54-66.

QUOTABLE 

"I rarely smile after a loss, but today I am. We gave a team ranked as high as third in NCAA  Division II all they wanted. This game by no means defines us. However, I am proud of how we competed for 40 minutes against one of the historically top basketball programs in the nation," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We are getting better, that's the main thing. That's the goal for these two exhibitions, to get better."

NOTABLE 

• Micah Clayton led the Valor with 12 points in the game on Friday. 

• Lydia Babirye also recorded double digit scoring for the Valor, scoring 11 points in the game.

• Both Clayton and Babirye led the team with five rebounds.

• Evangel led for 15 minutes of the ball game against the nationally ranked Division two squad.

UP NEXT

Valor Women's Basketball will take on Lincoln University in Jefferson City tomorrow (Dec. 30) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in their final exhibition match of the season.

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—