The Basics

Score: Evangel 59, Saint Mary 64

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (2-6, 1-3), Saint Mary (5-5, 4-0) 

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball played host to the Saint Mary Spires on Wednesday (Dec. 4) evening, looking to take a win over an undefeated conference opponent. Despite leading for the majority of Wednesday's contest, a scoring drought in the final period hurt the Valor, as they came up just short of the win, 59-64.

The Valor defense held Saint Mary to just nine points in the first quarter, as both Kamie Jenkins and Micah Clayton scored baskets to open the period for the Valor. With 4:13 remaining in the first quarter, Saint Mary hit a three pointer to take a 9-8 lead, but the Valor ended the quarter on a 10-0 run, as Ali Kamies and Evin Montgomery nailed three pointers to fuel the 18-9 lead at the end of the period.

Saint Mary had their strongest offensive quarter in the second period, scoring 22 points to make Evangel lead by just four at the halftime break. Leading 21-9, the Spires went on a 17-2 run in the span of five and a half minutes to take a 26-23 lead over EU. The Valor used baskets late in the quarter by Micah Clayton to take a 35-31 lead into the halftime break.

The Valor held on to a six point lead for the majority of the third quarter, as both teams traded baskets over the 10 minute span to keep the Valor leading, 51-47, heading into the final quarter of play. Jenkins and Resa Martin had strong quarters to lead the Valor, as Jenkins scored five and Martin scored four.

In the final quarter of play, the Valor could only muster eight points against tough defense from Saint Mary. With 5:41 remaining in the game, a Carson Dillard free throw made it just a one point deficit, 54-55, but Saint Mary ended the period on a 9-5 run, as Evangel could not find clutch baskets down the stretch, falling 59-64, against Saint Mary.

QUOTABLE 

"It was a physical game tonight. Overall, we took great care of the ball and got to the free throw line. We had looks, but the shots didn't fall in the third and fourth quarters," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "I feel for our team. We played well enough except for our shooting. It just wasn't our night offensively."

NOTABLE 

• Micah Clayton led the Valor with 15 points in the loss.

• Kamie Jenkins pulled down a team high 15 rebounds.

• Emma Mullings led the Valor with three assists.

• The Valor shot 24.3 percent from the floor, their worst percentage of the season.

UP NEXT 

Evangel WBB hits the road on Saturday (Dec. 7) afternoon at 12:00 p.m. against Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.

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—