The Basics

Score: (7) Evangel 82, (2) Clarke 92

Location: Dubuque, Iowa (Kehl Center) 

Records: Evangel (13-15, 12-10), Clarke (26-3, 19-3) 

Box Score 

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- Valor Women's Basketball hit the road on Wednesday, taking on the Clarke Pride in the Heart of America Conference Tournament Quarterfinals. Looking to upset the two-seeded Pride, Evangel fought hard and had a huge fourth quarter to keep the game close, but ultimately fell short of pulling off the upset, 92-82.

Evangel got off to a fast start, scoring the first basket of the game when Lexi Berry found Alexis Roach for an early two point basket. Roach scored eight of Evangel's first 13 points to keep the Valor within close distance of the Pride on the scoreboard. With 1:33 remaining in the first quarter, a Berry layup put Evangel down just two points, 17-15, but the Pride ended the quarter on a 7-0 run, taking a 24-15 lead into the second period.

The Valor offense struggled at the beginning of the second quarter, scoring just six points in the first 5:51 of the quarter. During that time, Clarke had only scored nine points, so Evangel was able to keep the game close and a Sadie Chisum jumper brought the Valor within 10 points of Clarke. Again, the Pride found a run to end the quarter, this time 11-5, pushing their lead out to 16 points at halftime, 44-28. Roach led the Valor in scoring at the halftime break with 13 points.

Evangel raced out to a 7-0 run out of halftime, as a Giah Moore layup put EU down by nine, 44-35, with 7:30 remaining in the quarter. Clarke responded with a few baskets of their own, but the Valor again used a small run to draw within nine. A Chisum layup drew EU to within seven points of the highly ranked Clarke squad, but the Pride responded at the end of the quarter, ending on an 11-4 run over the final four minutes to take a 64-49 lead into the final quarter.

An 8-4 opening run by Clarke to open the fourth quarter gave the Pride their largest lead of the afternoon with seven minutes remaining in the game, 72-53. Evangel showed grit and tenacity over the following seven minutes to fight back in the game. Emma Mullings hit two free throws, followed by a Sarah Lwambo free throw to help cut the deficit. A Clarke basket was answered by five consecutive points from Sophie Sparks. A pair of Clarke layups were answered by baskets from Micah Clayton, Mullings, and Chisum. An Alexis Cauthon three pointer with 1:12 remaining found Evangel down just seven points, 82-75, in what had been a furious comeback for the Valor. A Chisum old fashioned three point play with 36 seconds remaining gave Evangel a chance, down just six points, 84-78. With limited possessions remaining, the Valor were forced to foul on nearly every possession. The Pride took advantage of the fouls, going 8-8 from the charity stripe in the final 30 seconds of the game, and leading to their 92-82 victory over the Valor.

QUOTABLE 

 "I couldn't be any more happier for how hard we fought today. This group of young women are an amazing example of the fight and perseverance this program talks about daily," stated Head Coach Preston Beverly. "I feel for our seniors. They are a true example on and off the court of what an Evangel University student-athlete should be. I hope that this close road loss to the #8 team in the country is taken into consideration by the selection committee. We're a really tough team that should have a chance to play in March."

NOTABLE 

• Roach led Evangel with 16 points in the loss.

• Clayton pulled down a team high eight rebounds.

• Chisum and Jazzy Kirby also scored in double figures of Evangel, with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

• Evangel was called for 31 fouls in the loss to Clarke's 14.

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—