The Basics

Score: Evangel 76, Bethany 66

Location: Lindsborg, Kan. (Ray D. Hahn Gymnasium) 

Records: Evangel (16-10, 14-6), Bethany (13-13, 11-9) 

Box Score 

LINDSBORG, Kan. -- Valor Women's Basketball hit the road on Saturday (Feb. 15) afternoon, looking to close their road regular season schedule on a high note, taking on the Swedes of Bethany. Despite Bethany opening the final quarter on a run, the Valor took care of business late, hitting late free throws and maintaining their lead that they held for the majority of the ballgame, 76-66.

Evangel and Bethany played a tightly contested first quarter. EU took a 7-2 lead over the Swedes behind five points from Ali Kamies, before Bethany responded by tying the game up at 13-13. Carson Dillard would nail a pair of three pointers quickly after to put EU ahead 19-13, but it would be Bethany who closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run, making the Valor lead just one point, 21-20, at the end of the period.

The biggest Valor win came in the second quarter, when EU would outscore the Swedes by eight points, 22-14. Evin Montgomery provided a spark off the bench for EU, hitting a pair of threes and free throws to open the quarter, giving the Valor a 29-25 lead. Baskets from Kamies and Lexi Berry helped EU grab a double digit lead in the period and a free throw from Resa Martin gave the Valor their largest lead of the second quarter, 43-30, as EU led 43-34 at the halftime break.

The Valor were able to jump out to a 18-point lead in the third quarter, their largest of the game, on a Jazzy Kirby three pointer mid way through the period. Bethany did respond in the period and draw the Valor lead down, but Evangel continued to match the Swedes point for point, as EU took a 61-47 lead into the final period of play.

Bethany opened the fourth quarter with an 11-3 run, drawing to within six points of the Valor lead, before Berry and Kamies put a stop to the run with baskets for Evangel. The Swedes continued to fight, but Evangel, after learning from their last contest on Tuesday night, nailed their free throws down the stretch and kept Bethany from a comeback, taking a 76-66 win on Saturday.

QUOTABLE 

"I'm extra proud of our ladies today. We prepared them for a physical game and they responded. We held Jaden Newfarmer, one of the premier players in the conference, to just six points," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "We hit our free throws down the stretch today, which helped seal the victory. Great road win!"

NOTABLE 

• Ali Kamies led the Valor with 17 points in Saturday's win.

• Jazzy Kirby (14 pts.), Carson Dillard (13 pts.), and Lexi Berry (13 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel. 

• Kamie Jenkins pulled down 13 rebounds in the win.

• Jazzy Kirby passed off a team high three assists.

• After sitting at .500 back in January, the Valor have racked off six consecutive wins and sit at 16-10 with two games left to play in the regular season.

UP NEXT 

Evangel returns home on Wednesday (Feb. 19) evening, hosting the Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles at 5:30 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena. Wednesday's live stream will be produced live by Mediacom22. In case of inclement weather or schedule changes, stay tuned to Evangel Women's Basketball on X and Facebook, as well as the Evangel athletics website for updates.

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.