The Basics

Score: Evangel 80, McPherson 68

Location: McPherson, Kan. (Holman Fieldhouse) 

Records: Evangel (7-7), McPherson (0-14) 

Box Score 

MCPHERSON, Kan. -- Evangel Women's Basketball hit the road to open 2025, taking on the McPherson Bulldogs in an unusually early matchup, beginning at 10:00 am, to avoid incoming inclement weather. The early start saw Evangel come out slow out of the gate, but an offensive explosion in the fourth quarter pushed the Valor to a 80-68 win to open the second half of the season, moving back to .500 on the year.

Evangel jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, using a three pointer from Carson Dillard to cap off the run, but McPherson quickly settled in, tying the game up on several occasions in the first period of play. Trailing 18-17 towards the end of the quarter, Dillard again nailed a three pointer to give the Valor a 20-18 lead heading into the second quarter.

More back and forth play in the early stages of the second quarter soon found Evangel unable to score, as the Bulldogs began a run of their own to take as much as a seven-point lead over the Valor, 39-32, with 1:39 remaining in the half. Micah Clayton buried a pair of free throws to close the first half, as EU trailed, 39-34, at the halftime break.

The Valor continued to fight, but did not score quickly in the third quarter. Baskets from Emma Mullings, Jazzy Kirby, and Micah Clayton in the quarter helped the Valor tie up the game with 3:57 left in the period of play, but again the Bulldogs responded, retaking a five-point lead with 2:29 to play. Free throws from Clayton and a smooth jumper to beat the shot clock from Ali Kamies made it just a one-point deficit for EU, 54-53, heading into the final period of play.

Carson Dillard and Ali Kamies dominated play in the fourth quarter for both sides, as the juniors both scored 11 points alone in the final frame. Kamies and Clayton opened the quarter up with a 7-0 run, followed by a three point barrage from Dillard to blow the game wide open for Evangel, who led by as much as 13 points, 75-62, after trailing just minutes before in the third quarter. Strong defensive play helped close out the game for EU, as they took an 80-68 win over McPherson, to open the new year.

QUOTABLE 

"We made a halftime adjustment defensively and our players responded. Ali Kamies hit some big shots today that were daggers. Micah Clayton and Carson Dillard hit timely shots too," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "Emma Mullings had her best game of the year! Good road win for a 10:00 AM start!"

NOTABLE 

• Carson Dillard led the Valor with 22 points in the win.

• Micah Clayton (19 pts.), Ali Kamies (15 pts.), and Emma Mullings (11 pts.), who matched her career high, all rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel.

• Lexi Berry, Kamies, and Clayton passed off a team high three assists in the win.

• Micah Clayton came away with five steals on Saturday, while pulling down a team high seven rebounds.

• Evangel was again without leading rebounder Kamie Jenkins.

UP NEXT 

Evangel returns home on Wednesday (Jan. 8) evening to host the Southwestern College Moundbuilders at 5:30 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena. Wednesday's game will be broadcast by Mediacom22.

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.