The Basics

Score: Evangel 64, College of the Ozarks 80

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (0-2), C of O (1-0) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball returned to action on Tuesday (Nov. 5) evening, hosting longtime rival College of the Ozarks in AGFinancial Arena. A tough second quarter hurt Evangel's chances as the Valor ultimately fell short against the Bobcats, 80-64.

Evangel and College of the Ozarks played a close first quarter, as both teams traded baskets in the period. A free throw from Ali Kamies tied the game at 14-14 in the first quarter, but CofO generated a 7-2 run to grab the lead over EU. A free throw from Carson Dillard, who led all scorers on Tuesday, made it a 22-19 game at the end of the first quarter, with EU trailing.

The Valor struggled in the second quarter, scoring just six points to CofO's 22. A Dillard jumper to make it a 25-21 deficit would be the only field goal made until the 5:48 mark when Kamie Jenkins scored. The Jenkins basket was the last of the quarter for EU, as the Bobcats closed the half on a 9-0 to take a 44-25 lead at the halftime break.

Evangel came out of the halftime break with a strong offensive pace, outscoring the Bobcats, 21-17, in the period. Trailing by 18, a 9-0 Evangel run fueled by baskets by Carson Dillard and Micah Clayton helped EU trail by just single digits, 49-40. A nine point deficit with 2:08 remaining was the closest the Valor came in the quarter, 55-46, but a pair of three pointers to end the quarter from the Bobcats made it a 61-46 ballgame heading into the final quarter.

The Valor fought hard, hanging tough with the rival Bobcats, drawing the Ozarks lead all the way down to seven points on a three pointer from Dillard, 61-68. C of O ended the game on a 12-3 run to end the Valor chances in Tuesday's game, as EU fell in a tough battle, 64-80.

QUOTABLE 

"Our defense and turnovers got us in a hole in the first half. In the third quarter and some of the fourth, I started to see the team I think we are and can be," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We will build on this loss and continue to get better."

NOTABLE 

• Carson Dillard led the Valor with 21 points in the loss.

• Forwards Micah Clayton and Kamie Jenkins rounded out double digit scoring for EU, both scoring 16 points.

• Lexi Berry pulled down a team high nine rebounds and passed off four assists.

• Evangel shot just 35.5 percent from the floor, hitting just a trio of three pointers in the loss.

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.