The Basics

Score: Evangel 61, Kansas Wesleyan 64

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center) 

Records: Evangel (10-8, 8-7), Kansas Wesleyan (11-10, 9-6) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- After dropping a tough double overtime matchup to Tabor on the road on Saturday, Valor Women's Basketball took the floor to take on the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes on Wednesday (Jan. 31) evening, looking to finish the month of January with a win. Despite leading heading into the final quarter, a tough three point shooting fourth quarter hurt EU, as they fell, 64-61.

Evangel shot just 21.4 percent in the first quarter, falling behind early to the Coyotes. An 11-2 opening run for Kansas Wesleyan proved to be the difference in the opening frame, as Evangel would go on a 6-0 run to make it 11-8, but fall once again by eight points by the end of the quarter, 20-12, after being led by Kate Gilbert and Kamie Jenkins with four points each in the quarter.

The Valor began to narrow the Kansas Wesleyan lead in the second quarter, out scoring the Coyotes by eight points to take a 30-30 tie into the halftime break. The Valor run in the second quarter began at the 1:26 mark with EU trailing 30-24. A Lydia Babirye bucket, followed by an old-fashioned three point play by Kate Gilbert helped EU draw within a point. Babirye would hit a free throw in the final 27 seconds of the half, making the score a 30-30 tie at halftime.

A 9-2 KWU run would open the third quarter, as Evangel struggled to generate any offense to open the second half. Trailing 39-34, the Valor began to hit their shots, going on a 7-0 run, sparked by a Babirye three pointer. A tough basket in the paint by Kamie Jenkins and a mid range jumper from Kohnnar Patton forced a Coyote timeout, with EU leading, 41-39. KWU was able to cool off the Evangel run, hitting a three to retake the lead, but a basket from Kamie Jenkins put EU back up, 43-42, heading into the final quarter of play.

Evangel's struggle from the three point line made the difference in the fourth quarter. After both teams traded baskets to open the quarter, a 9-2 run by the Coyotes hurt the Valor. Trying to get back into the game, several threes would not fall for the Valor. After missing eight three pointers to open the fourth quarter, Carson Dillard would find the bottom of the net, making it a 57-53 KWU lead. Kohnnar Patton also answered the call, hitting a three of her own with 2:30 remaining, making it just a one point game. After a pair of KWU free throws, Patton once again hit a three to tie the game up with a minute remaining, but on the ensuing possession, the Coyotes nailed a three pointer, retaking a three point lead, 62-59. The Valor would get one final chance at tying the game, but a Jazzy Kirby volleyball line three would hit the backboard, as EU fell, 64-61. 

QUOTABLE 

"Tough one tonight. It was a rare occasion, but I didn't think we had it together as a team. We did not play with a sense of urgency from the beginning," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We would fight back, and I actually felt we would pull away. However, that wasn't the case. We just have to keep grinding right now."

NOTABLE 

• Kamie Jenkins led the Valor with 15 points in the loss, pulling down nine rebounds.

• Kohnnar Patton rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel, scoring 12 points for EU.

• Evangel shot just 16 percent from three in Wednesday's loss.

• The Valor outrebounded Kansas Wesleyan, 43-42, in Wednesday's loss.

UP NEXT

Valor Women's Basketball concludes their home stand on Saturday (Feb. 3) afternoon, hosting the York Panthers at 1:00 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—