The Basics

Score: Evangel 82, Avila 62

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (1-4, 1-1), Avila (0-5, 0-2) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball concluded their homestand on Wednesday (Nov. 20) evening, hosting the Avila Eagles in a primetime matchup. In what would be Evangel's best offensive night of the early season, the Valor jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of poor shooting from the Eagles to take a 82-62 win on Wednesday.

Evangel and Avila both struggled to score to open the first quarter, as Avila scored the first basket in the quarter to take a 2-0 lead. An Ali Kamies drive in the paint gave Evangel their first points of the evening and Kamies made her ensuing free throw after being fouled. A Kamie Jenkins basket made it a 5-2 game and neither team could score for the following three minutes. Lexi Berry nailed a reverse jumper to break the scoring drought and Evangel was off and running for the rest of the quarter. Avila mustered just ten points in the quarter as EU took a 17-10 lead into the second quarter.

Although it seemed like Avila struggled in the first quarter, quarter number two proved to be worse in terms of shooting for the Eagles. The Valor defense held the Eagles to just eight shot attempts in the quarter, as Avila shot 16.7 percent at the halftime break. Resa Martin led the charge in quarter number two, scoring seven points and helping Evangel take a 38-15 lead into the halftime break.

Avila began to warm up from the floor in the second half, hitting a pair of three pointers to open the half that narrowed the Evangel lead. The Valor responded with a 7-0 run, capped off by a Jazzy Kirby shot clock beating three to take a 49-23 lead over the Eagles. Avila answered with a 6-0 run to make it a 20-point deficit, but Kamie Jenkins stalled their run by converting an and-one play with a minute and a half remaining in the period. Heading into the final quarter of play, the Valor led it, 58-29.

In the final quarter of play, both teams made several three point shots, as Avila looked to come back in the game and Evangel looked to increase their lead. Evin Montgomery displayed her range in the quarter, hitting a pair of three pointers to increase the Valor lead. Avila was able to close the gap a bit, going on an 11-0 run in the final quarter of play, but ultimately the win had been captured, as EU claimed their first victory of the season, 82-62.

QUOTABLE 

"Our halfcourt defense set the tone in the first half and helped us jump to a big lead. Plus, we had 39 bench points and 28 points off of turnovers for the game," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We only had 10 turnovers overall, so we have taken much better care of the ball the past two games. This is more our style of play."

NOTABLE 

• Kamie Jenkins and Evin Montgomery led the charge for Evangel on Wednesday, both scoring 13 points in the win.

• Ali Kamies and Jenkins both led Evangel with five rebounds.

• Four Valor athletes recorded three assists in the win, leading the team.

• Evangel bounced back on Wednesday, shooting their highest percentage of the year in the win (43.9).

UP NEXT 

Evangel WBB hits the road and takes on the Tabor Bluejays at 2:00 p.m. in Hillsboro, Kansas on Saturday (Nov. 23) afternoon.

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—