The Basics

Score: Evangel 63, Warner 54

Location: Lake Wales, Fla. (Turner Athletic Center) 

Records: Evangel (6-6), Warner (5-7) 

Box Score 

LAKE WALES, Fla. -- Evangel Women's Basketball traveled over 1,100 miles this week to take part in the Warner Classic, looking to take wins against a pair of non-conference competitors. Evangel took on host school, Warner, in their first matchup on Thursday, looking to remain unbeaten against the Florida school all-time. Both teams competed in a tight matchup with the Valor ultimately pulling away in the final period of play, 63-54, to move back to .500 on the season.

Both Evangel and Warner used the first quarter to find their footing in the game, as both teams scored just 12 points in the period. After Warner jumped out to a 4-0 lead, the Valor generated a 6-0 run, capped off by an Ali Kamies three pointer to take a 6-4 lead. Neither team was able to do much more offensively, as Kamies and Lexi Berry carried the offensive load for Evangel in quarter number one, with a 12-12 tie on the scoreboard at the end of the period.

Evangel was able to jump out to as much as a 10-point lead over the Royals, using a three point make from Jazzy Kirby and baskets from Resa Martin to make it a 24-14 game with 6:27 remaining in the quarter. Despite Kirby being able to nail another three in the quarter, Warner was able to put forth a miniature run to end the quarter, as EU led 29-27 at the halftime break.

Warner came out quick out of the halftime break, using a 4-0 run to take a 31-29 lead over Evangel. Instead of folding, the Valor offense responded, using baskets from Carson Dillard, Ali Kamies, and a three pointer from Resa Martin to re-extend their lead to 36-31. Another 10-point lead for Evangel came after a basket from Kamie Jenkins, but again, Warner closed out the quarter with a run to stay within reach of the Valor, 47-45.

In the final quarter of play, the Valor put forth a 9-1 run in the opening minutes, with baskets coming from Lexi Berry and a clutch three pointer from Carson Dillard to give EU a 56-46 lead. With the Valor holding tight to a 10-point lead, 59-49, with just over three minutes remaining, Warner's offense went on a 5-0 run to draw within five points of the Valor lead. The run came too little, too late for the Royals, as Warner was forced to foul and Evangel's free throw shooting and defense carried the Valor the rest of the way, en route to a 63-54 victory on Thursday.

QUOTABLE 

"Good road win. Our defense stepped up big time!," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "When you shoot 29 percent and win on the road, that's a big deal. I'm proud of our bench again, especially Lexi Berry!"

NOTABLE 

• Ali Kamies led Evangel with 13 points in the win.

• Jazzy Kirby came away with four steals on Thursday.

• Kamie Jenkins pulled down a team high 10 rebounds and passed off three assists in the win.

• Lexi Berry's 12 point performance rounded out double digit scoring in the win.

• Evangel held Warner to just nine points in the final quarter of play.

UP NEXT 

Evangel concludes the Warner Classic on Friday (Dec. 20) afternoon, taking on the sixth-ranked Dakota State Trojans at 1:00 p.m. in Lake Wales, Florida.

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—