The Basics

Score: Evangel 45, Friends 47

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (0-4), Friends (3-3) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball took the floor on Saturday (Nov. 16) afternoon, playing host to the Friends Falcons in their conference opener. Looking to take their first win of the season, the Valor battled hard and held a late lead over the Falcons, but could not finish in the end, falling 47-45 to the Falcons, who were picked to finish second in the conference in the preseason coaches poll.

Evangel fell in a hole early, 6-0, to Friends, but a pair of jumpers from forwards Micah Clayton and Kamie Jenkins, followed by a three pointer from Ali Kamies helped Evangel take a 7-6 lead. A 9-0 run from the Falcons offense made the Valor trail 15-7, but Evangel ended the quarter on a strong run, using points from Kamies, Lexi Berry, and Carson Dillard to trail by just a single point at the halftime break, 15-14.

Evangel and Friends played a defensive second quarter, as both teams scored just nine points in the quarter. A basket from the Falcons made it a three point lead for Friends, but Ali Kamies again hit a three to tie the game at 17-17. The Valor were able to push out to a four point lead, 21-17, on an Ellison Mehrhoff basket before Friends ended the quarter on a 7-3 run, making it a 24-23 deficit at the halftime break.

Both teams couldn't buy a basket in the third quarter, as the Valor were able to win the quarter, 8-6 to take a one point lead in to the final quarter. Trailing 30-29, a basket from Carson Dillard at the buzzer gave Evangel momentum and the lead over Friends, heading into the fourth.

Evangel and Friends played their strongest offensive quarters in the fourth. Neither team could push out to a very large lead, but a three pointer from Alyssa McCarty helped EU take a four point lead, with 5:20 remaining in the game. In the span of a minute, Friends raced back to tie it up and from there, both teams continued to trade baskets. Taylor Jackson and Micah Clayton both led their teams late, but a layup for Friends and subsequent turnover by Evangel on their following possession hurt Evangel. Trailing by three and with Clayton going to the free throw line, Evangel needed a made free throw and a intentional miss and offensive rebound. Clayton's miss was where it needed to be, but Evangel failed to score a jumper in the final moments, falling 47-45, on Saturday afternoon.

QUOTABLE 

"Sometimes you get the effort, communication, and energy you want from your team and you still come up short," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "It's the best effort we hve given this season and I am proud of this team for their effort."

NOTABLE 

• Ali Kamies led the Valor with 14 points in the loss.

• Kamie Jenkins recorded 14 rebounds on Saturday.

• Three Valor athletes led the way with three assists.

• Evangel's shooting woes continued on Wednesday, as they made just 26.9 percent of their shots and 13 percent of their three pointers.

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.