The Basics

Score: Evangel 69, Mission 82

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (0-1), Mission (1-0) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball opened their 2024-25 campaign at home in front of a sellout crowd in the new AGFinancial Arena on Friday (Nov. 1) evening, taking on crosstown foe, Mission, in search of their first win of the season. A tough shooting night from long range and the free throw line, as well as several turnovers hurt the Valor, as they fell in their season opener, 69-82.

Ali Kamies and Kamie Jenkins opened the first quarter with a pair of baskets for Evangel, giving the Valor a 4-2 lead over the visiting Patriots, but this would be the final time Evangel led on Friday night, with 7:50 remaining in the first quarter of play. A Mission 11-0 run in the span of just over two minutes pushed the Patriots out to a 13-4 lead. Mission was able to take as much as a 13-point lead with 1:25 remaining in the period, but a jumper from Micah Clayton and five consecutive points from Carson Dillard made it a 21-27 deficit at the end of the quarter.

An Ali Kamies three pointer to open the second quarter helped Evangel trail by just three points, 24-27, but again, Mission made a run to take a 10-point lead with 2:44 remaining in the half. Resa Martin helped the Valor narrow their deficit, but EU trailed by eight at the halftime break, 34-42.

Evangel and Mission traded baskets for the majority of the third quarter, as Morgan Ross led the Valor in scoring with five points. Towards the end of the quarter, the Valor were unable to make any ground on the deficit, as Mission continued to score baskets, taking a 13-point lead at the end of the quarter, 49-62.

Resa Martin had a big fourth quarter, scoring seven points, but the Valor continued to struggle to force a comeback, as Mission continued to score baskets. Evangel and Mission both scored 20 points in the final quarter, as the Valor fell in their home opener, 69-82.

QUOTABLE 

"It just wasn't a good Evangel Women's Basketball night. 20 turnovers, 10-21 from the free throw line, and we shot 39% for the game. It's only one game, but not the effort nor toughness we are used to displaying," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We will bounce back and be ready to go Tuesday. Maybe a left hook on the cheek was what we needed."

NOTABLE 

• Resa Martin, in her first career game, led the Valor with 15 points.

• Carson Dillard and Ali Kamies rounded out double digit scoring for the Valor, putting up 11 points apiece.

• Kamie Jenkins and Resa Martin both led the Valor with eight rebounds.

• Jazzy Kirby and Jenkins both passed off three assists in the loss.

• Martin blocked three shots to lead Evangel.

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—