The Basics

Score: Evangel 83, Bethany 76

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (9-7, 7-3), Bethany (8-7, 6-3) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball concluded their homestand on Saturday (Jan. 11) afternoon, hosting the Bethany Swedes in a noon matchup. Looking to take a win against the team that sat third in the conference before game time, Evangel used a consistent game on both offense and defense to take down the Swedes, 83-76.

Evangel and Bethany both struggled to score to open the ballgame, as neither team scored over the first two and a half minutes of the quarter. The Swedes were able to break through the drought with a basket, which opened the flood gates for both teams in the period. Micah Clayton and Carson Dillard both hit shots, followed by a three point make from Jazzy Kirby to make it a 7-4 lead for EU. Although the Valor would attempt to keep the score close, a Bethany run and layup on their final possession made it a 17-14 game at the end of the first period.

Lexi Berry led the Valor in the second quarter, scoring seven points to pace the Valor in scoring. A three pointer from Bethany gave the Swedes their largest lead of the afternoon, 20-14, over the Valor, before EU went on a 8-0 run to recapture the lead. EU jumped out to a seven point lead towards the end of the half on a Clayton basket, but a three pointer from Bethany kept EU within reach for the Swedes, 33-29.

Evangel consistently had answers for seemingly every Bethany basket in the third quarter, scoring a game high 26 points in the period. The Valor were able to jump out to double digit leads on various occasions and a jumper from Lexi Berry with 32 seconds remaining gave Evangel their largest lead of the night, 59-48, over Bethany. The Swedes scored to close the quarter out, making it a 59-50 ballgame.

A Jazzy Kirby three pointer with 2:46 in the quarter made it a 76-65 ballgame, but the Swedes did not back down. A 7-0 Bethany run in the span of a minute and a half made the game much closer, but again, Lexi Berry came up clutch for Evangel. After winding the shot clock down, Berry nailed a jumper to make it a 78-72 game with 41 seconds left. The Valor buried free throws to close the game out, taking a 83-76 win over Bethany and continuing their conference winning streak. 

QUOTABLE 

"Great effort again today! It felt like a championship type of game. Lexi Berry was on her game and had many roles," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "It was great to shoot the ball well and have five players in double figures. We are starting to see the team we expect to be."

NOTABLE 

• Jazzy Kirby led the Valor with 18 points in the win.

• Lexi Berry (16 pts.), Micah Clayton (15 pts.), Carson Dillard (12 pts.), and Ali Kamies (11 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• Kamie Jenkins pulled down a team high 11 rebounds in the win.

• Kirby led Evangel with eight assists.

• Evangel shot 55 percent from the floor on Saturday, continuing their strong shooting in the month of January.

UP NEXT 

Evangel hits the road on Wednesday (Jan. 15) evening to take on the Avila Eagles at 5:30 p.m. in Kansas City, Missouri.

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—