The Basics

Score: Evangel 62, Avila 69

Location: Kansas City, Mo. (Mabee Fieldhouse) 

Records: Evangel (9-8, 7-4), Avila (5-12, 5-6) 

Box Score 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Evangel Women's Basketball hit the road on Wednesday (Jan. 15) evening, taking on the Avila Eagles in search of their seventh consecutive conference win and second win over the Eagles this season. A fourth quarter scoring drought hurt Evangel on Wednesday, as nine points in the final quarter was not enough in a 62-69 loss for EU.

Evangel and Avila played a back and forth start to the first quarter, but Avila took advantage of missed shots from Evangel to generate an 13-4 run to take a 20-10 lead over the Valor with 3:10 remaining in the quarter. Lexi Berry took over during the final three minutes, scoring nine of Evangel's final 11 points in the quarter to bring the game to a 22-22 tie heading into the second quarter.

The second quarter proved to be another back and forth affair, as neither team was able to break the tie heading into the halftime break. A big quarter from Jazzy Kirby kept the Valor within striking distance of the Eagles, with her final basket of the period giving the Valor a two point lead. Avila closed the quarter with a basket to tie the game up, as both teams took a 38-38 game at halftime.

Avila was able to jump out to a six point lead early in the third quarter, as Evangel could not buy a basket midway through the period. Baskets from Resa Martin, Ali Kamies, and Berry helped dwindle the Avila lead down to just a single point, 49-50, with 3:42 remaining in the quarter. Unfortunately for EU, a 9-4 run for the Eagles to close out the quarter put the Valor in a hole heading into the final quarter of play, 53-59.

A scoring drought to open the final quarter of play did not help Evangel's chances on Wednesday, as EU scored just two points in the first four and a half minutes, allowing Avila to jump out to a 55-64 lead. Evangel did respond, using a three pointer from Emily Recker and jumper from Kamies to narrow the Eagles lead down to four points with 4:42 remaining. Unfortunately for the Valor, another scoring drought ensued, as EU scored just one final basket in the last 4:42 of the game, ultimately falling, 62-69.

QUOTABLE 

"Rough night tonight. Too many uncharacteristic turnovers, only six assists, and being outrebounded by 15 is not a good recipe for a win," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "It was disappointing tonight, but we will bounce back."

NOTABLE 

• Lexi Berry led the Valor with 19 points in the loss, her career high.

• Jazzy Kirby (12 pts.) and Ali Kamies (12 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• Kamies pulled down a team high six rebounds in the loss.

• Evangel was outrebounded in the loss, 38-23, 14 of which were offensive boards which led to 14 second chance points for the Eagles.

UP NEXT 

Evangel returns home on Saturday (Jan. 18) afternoon, hosting the Kansas Wesleyan Coyotes at 12:00 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena for Alumni Day.

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—