The Basics

Score: Evangel 85, Sterling 70

Location: Springfield, Mo. (Ashcroft Center) 

Records: Evangel (15-8, 13-7), Sterling (11-15, 9-11) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball concluded their homestand on Saturday (Feb. 17) afternoon, taking on the Sterling College Warriors in their penultimate regular season game in the Ashcroft Center. Evangel shot well from the floor on Saturday, pushing themselves to a strong win on their home court, 85-70, over the Warriors of Sterling College.

Sterling would race out to an early, narrow lead in the first quarter, 9-7, halfway through the period. The Valor would generate a run in the quarter to capture as much as a five point lead, using baskets from Lydia Babirye and Kamie Jenkins to go ahead, 21-16. Sterling would nail a few baskets in the final minute to make it a 21-20 Evangel lead at the end of the quarter.

Evangel was able to expand their lead in the second quarter, using an 11-2 run in a three minute span halfway through the quarter to take a 39-29 lead over the Warriors. Four different Valor athletes scored on the run, including four points off the bench for Jade Hinzman. Sterling and Evangel would trade baskets for the final minutes of the quarter, as EU took a 45-37 lead at the halftime break.

Sterling would make a run to open the second half, eventually tying the game up at 49-49. Evangel's Carson Dillard responded, hitting back to back three pointers to re-extend Evangel's lead, followed by baskets from sisters Jazzy Kirby and Jade Hinzman. Kirby's basket to end the quarter lifted EU back to an eight point lead, 63-55, over the Warriors.

The Evangel offense exploded in the final quarter, as Dillard and Jenkins both scored six points in the quarter. The Valor shot a scorching 71.4 percent from the floor in the quarter, as Sterling could not find any answers defensively against Evangel. Evangel's 22 points in the quarter was the most in a single quarter all day, as EU cruised their way to a 85-70 victory over the Warriors on Saturday.

QUOTABLE 

"Good end of the regular season hard-fought game. We were a little sloppy taking care of the ball, but hopefully we learned from being pressed today," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "Our bench was awesome today. Lydia had a great first half along with Jade Hinzman. Carson shot lights out in the second half. Great effort by all!"

NOTABLE 

• Carson Dillard led the Valor with 20 points in the win.

• Kamie Jenkins recorded yet another double-double in the win, scoring 17 points and pulling down 13 rebounds.

• Evangel forced 20 turnovers on Saturday, but turned the ball over 25 times.

• Micah Clayton (14 pts.) and Jazzy Kirby (11 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring in the win on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Valor Women's Basketball hits the road for the final time in the regular season, as they take on the Ottawa Braves at 5:00 p.m. in Ottawa, 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—