The Basics

Score: Evangel 77, Sterling 63

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena) 

Records: Evangel (18-10, 16-6), Sterling (18-10, 14-8) 

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Valor Women's Basketball concluded their 2024-25 regular season on Saturday (Feb. 22) afternoon, hosting the Sterling College Warriors in a battle between a pair of teams looking to host a quarterfinal matchup next Thursday night. In what was a tight battle throughout came down to an imperative fourth quarter that Evangel dominated, outscoring Sterling 21-4, and taking a 77-63 win on Saturday to lock up the #3 seed in the conference tournament. 

Jazzy Kirby opened up scoring for Evangel on Saturday, followed by a pair of baskets from Ali Kamies to give EU a 6-2 lead. Kamie Jenkins was able to score a pair of layups, making it a 10-7 ballgame before a 7-0 Sterling run. Evin Montgomery was able to keep EU close to Sterling, hitting a pair of three pointers as the Valor trailed, 20-16, with 2:18 remaining. Baskets from Micah Clayton and a Kamies three pointer gave EU a 21-20 lead at the end of the quarter.

Both Evangel and Sterling played a tightly contested second quarter with the largest lead being five points, coming for the Warriors with 3:21 remaining in the period. Micah Clayton took over in the final three minutes of play, scoring five points along with a layup from Resa Martin to give EU a 39-39 tie at the halftime break.

Evangel took a three point lead early in the third quarter, using a three pointer from Carson Dillard to help fuel the offense, but Sterling again responded, giving Evangel fits with their half court trap. A three pointer from the Warriors with 3:16 remaining gave Sterling their largest lead of the second half, 56-50. Kamies, Dillard, and Clayton all scored baskets to close the period, as EU trailed 59-56, with just one quarter remaining.

The Valor put forth one of their most dominant performances in the fourth quarter of Saturday's game. EU held Sterling to just four points in the quarter, scoring 21 of their own. Senior Jazzy Kirby led the offensive charge for EU, scoring seven points and putting the game away with a clutch jump shot that she was fouled on. Clayton, another senior, scored six points in the period and it would be another senior, Lexi Berry, who recovered a late offensive rebound in the waning moments, as EU took a 77-63 win on Saturday.

QUOTABLE 

"What an awesome game today! Two teams competing hard for home court advantage in the conference tournament," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "Our defense held strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring Sterling by 17 points. I'm looking forward to being home this Thursday."

NOTABLE 

• Ali Kamies led the Valor with 19 points in Saturday's win.

• Micah Clayton (15 pts.) and Kamie Jenkins (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel. 

• Kamie Jenkins pulled down 14 rebounds in the win.

• Jazzy Kirby passed off a team high eight assists.

• Evangel earned the three seed with their win on Saturday and Friends loss at home to Bethany, wrapping up the regular season with an 18-10 record.

UP NEXT 

Evangel hosts sixth-seeded Sterling on Thursday (Feb. 27) evening at a time to be announced in AGFinancial Arena, looking to take a win to advance to the conference tournament semifinals on Saturday evening.

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.