The Basics

Score: (RV) Evangel 104, Saint Mary 77

Location: Leavenworth, Kan. (Ryan Sports Center) 

Records: Evangel (7-1, 4-0), Saint Mary (5-4, 2-2)

Box Score 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Evangel hit the road on Wednesday (Dec. 3) evening, taking on the Saint Mary Spires, looking to earn their sixth consecutive win and fourth in conference play. The Valor hit the century mark for the second time this season, this time behind a career outing for Heaven Shockley, to take a 104-77 win over the Spires on the road.

Evangel scored 30 points in a fast paced first quarter, as Heaven Shockley did most of her work on the evening in the period, scoring 12 points while pulling down five boards and coming away with three steals. Both teams would trade baskets to open the period before Evangel rattled off a 17-5 run to take a 22-10 lead that Cassidy Hambelton extended with a buzzer-beating three pointer, leading 30-14 at the end of the quarter.

Eight consecutive points from Carson Dillard midway through the second quarter helped the Valor extend their lead to 22 points. Strong defensive pressure from EU forced the Spires into seven turnovers, as the Valor began to run away from the Spires, with Mae Mae Gilmore closing out the half with a basket to make it a 53-26 EU lead.

Another strong quarter from Shockley allowed Evangel to extend the Spire deficit, despite Saint Mary opening the quarter by chipping into EU's lead. A jumper from Ali Kamies gave EU a 35 point lead, their largest of the game, with just over a minute remaining in the period. The Spires would score five points to close out the quarter, drawing back within 30 points of EU's lead, 81-51.

Saint Mary would win the final quarter by three points, as the damage had been done in Evangel's 104-77 win. Evin Montgomery and Morgan Ross both added six points in the final quarter of play to help EU break through the century mark in the 27-point win on Wednesday.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm very proud of the commitment to the game plan on both ends of the floor tonight," stated head coach Madi Wallace. "We showed a lot of grit and toughness moving into a big game against Bethel on Saturday."

NOTABLE 

• Heaven Shockley scored a career high 30 points, while also leading Evangel in rebounds (11), steals (5), and blocks (4) on Wednesday.

• Cassidy Hambelton led Evangel with nine assists in the win.

• Carson Dillard (14 pts.), Lydia Babirye (13 pts.), and Ali Kamies (12 pts.), rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel.

UP NEXT

Evangel WBB returns home to host the Bethel Threshers at noon on Saturday (Dec. 6) afternoon, looking to take their seventh consecutive win of the season. KCAC Gameday Live will preview the contest on Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. on the KCAC Network.

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.