The Basics

Score: Evangel 61, Bethany 66

Location: Lindsborg, Kan. (Ray D. Hahn Gymnasium) 

Records: Evangel (4-4, 3-3), Bethany (6-6, 4-2) 

Box Score

LINDSBORG, Kan. -- Valor Women's Basketball traveled to Lindsborg, Kansas, on Saturday (Dec. 9) afternoon, looking to put their win streak on the line against a tough Bethany squad on the road. A tight contest would need the final minutes of the fourth quarter to be determined, as Bethany took advantage of cold shooting in the final moments by the Valor offense, as EU fell, 61-66.

Evangel's Jade Hinzman and Kamie Jenkins would lead the Valor in scoring in the first quarter. Hinzman scored Evangel's first four points and Jenkins would score six for the Valor, as EU took a 10-8 lead in the first 4:32 of the first quarter. The Valor would be held scoreless the remainder of the first quarter, as Bethany closed the period on a 9-0 run, making it a 17-10 game in favor of the Swedes.

The Valor offense began to heat up in the second quarter. Although Bethany would take a nine-point lead in the first few minutes of the quarter, a team effort by the Valor would dwindle that lead down to a single point, led by five points from Lydia Babirye off the bench. A free throw from Carson Dillard with 47 seconds left made it a 28-29 game, in favor of the Swedes, as Bethany would hit a pair of free throws to end the quarter, making it a 28-31 game at halftime.

Both teams scored over 20 points in the third quarter, but the Swedes would extend their lead to six at the end of the period, after outscoring Evangel by three points. Lexi Berry would nail two big time threes for the Valor in the quarter, keeping EU within striking distance of Bethany, 54-48, at the end of the third quarter.

Evangel came out strong in the first half of the final quarter. An 11-2 Valor run pushed Evangel out to a 59-56 lead over the Swedes and momentum seemed to have swung the way of the Valor. Bethany would tie the game up with four minutes remaining after hitting a trio of free throws. On Evangel's ensuing possession, the Valor could not get a basket to drop. EU was able to wind the clock down after getting several offensive rebounds, but could not score a basket. A 6-0 run by Bethany hurt Evangel's chances at stealing away the win, as the Valor turned the ball over, allowing the Swedes run. With 1:52 remaining in the quarter, Jenkins would hit a shot to make it just a four point game, but again, the Valor offense missed opportunities and ultimately fell short in their comeback effort, 61-66.

QUOTABLE 

"The game today was determined by turnovers. The turnovers occurred in our half court offense and not because of Bethany's full court pressure. That is disappointing. Unfortunately, we were our own worst enemy," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "I'm proud that we made a run in the fourth to take the lead, but we could not sustain the lead which hasn't happened this year. We simply have to take better care of the ball and then get stops at crucial points. We are simply going through growing pains. When we gain consistency, we are going to be hard to beat."

NOTABLE 

• Kamie Jenkins led the Valor with 21 points in the loss on Saturday and pulled down 13 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double of the year.

• Lexi Berry also recorded double digit scoring for the Valor, scoring 11 points in the loss.

• Evangel shot just 21.1 percent from the three point line in the loss.

• The Valor won the rebounding margin by nine in the loss on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Valor Women's Basketball will kick off a non-conference stretch on Thursday (Dec. 14) afternoon, taking on the Williams Baptist Eagles at 2:00 p.m. in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

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—