The Basics

Score: Evangel 67, Tabor 68 (2OT)

Location: Hillsboro, Kan. (Tabor Gymnasium) 

Records: Evangel (10-7, 8-6), Tabor (16-4, 13-1) 

Box Score 

HILLSBORO, Kan. -- After falling to Friends at home on Wednesday evening, Valor Women's Basketball hit the road to take on the Tabor Bluejays, who heading into Saturday's game, led the KCAC in the conference standings with 12 wins. The Valor would fight hard in hostile territory, but ultimately fall to the conference leaders, 67-68, in double overtime.

Kamie Jenkins opened scoring for both teams on Saturday, nailing a jumper to put the Valor ahead, 2-0. Tabor would generate a 10-3 run over the next three minutes to take a 10-5 lead over Evangel, but the Valor would respond with a strong run of their own. Five different Valor athletes would contribute to Evangel's 15-2 run to end the quarter, including back-to-back baskets for Carson Dillard, one of which was a three pointer at the buzzer, to take a 20-12 lead into the second quarter.

Both teams struggled offensively in the second quarter, as each team scored just nine points. Tabor won the first half of the second quarter, out scoring the Valor on their run by five points, but Evangel would win the second half of the second quarter, behind five points from Micah Clayton to keep the lead at eight points, 29-21, heading into the halftime break.

Tabor would begin to warm up in the third quarter, out scoring Evangel by five points in the period. Evangel would take a 42-32 lead with 3:02 remaining in the third quarter, but would be held scoreless the final three minutes as the Bluejays made a 7-0 run, making it a 42-39 ballgame, heading into the fourth quarter.

Tabor opened the fourth quarter by tying the game up on a three pointer from the top of the key, 42-42. Evangel would retake the lead on a Kamie Jenkins and Kate Gilbert jumper, 46-42, but the Bluejays would respond with baskets of their own to tie the game up. Down two points, Evangel's Micah Clayton would nail a jumper to tie the game at 54-54. Both teams went empty on their following possessions, forcing an overtime period.

In overtime, Tabor was able to take a five point lead over Evangel with just 1:42 remaining in the period. The Valor continued to demonstrate their fight, as Micah Clayton nailed two free throws and the Valor defense was able to secure the rebound for a final possession down three points. Carson Dillard's three on the ensuing possession would fall short, right into Kamie Jenkins hands, as Jenkins would put the layup up through contact, converting an and-one opportunity to tie the game, forcing a second overtime period, 62-62.

On Evangel's first possession of the double overtime period, leading scorer Kamie Jenkins fouled out on a controversial charge call, leaving the Valor without their top scorer for the final four minutes of the overtime period. Evangel would continue to fight in the period, keeping pace with the Bluejays. After Tabor took a three point lead with 53 seconds remaining in the game, Micah Clayton nailed a jumper to make it just a one point deficit. On the ensuing possession, Evangel forced a Tabor turnover, giving the Valor one final possession to take the game. Lexi Berry drove right, and ran into contact from the Tabor defender, as her layup rimmed out and no foul was called, forcing the Valor to fall, 67-68, on the road in double overtime.

QUOTABLE 

"This game had the feel of a championship environment from the start. Our ladies played their hearts out today. We represented our university with our best," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "Sometimes things work your way, and sometimes they don't. We gave it all today in a hostile environment. So proud!"

NOTABLE 

• Micah Clayton and Kamie Jenkins led the Valor with 19 points each on Saturday.

• Jenkins also pulled down 14 rebounds in the loss, recording her fourth consecutive double-double of the year.

• Evangel held Tabor to just 32.9 percent shooting on Saturday.

• The Valor outrebounded Tabor, 48-38, in Saturday's loss.

UP NEXT

Valor Women's Basketball returns home on Wednesday (Jan. 31) evening, hosting the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes at 5:30 p.m. 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—