The Basics

Score: Evangel 79, Saint Mary 72

Location: Leavenworth, Kan. (Ryan Sports Center) 

Records: Evangel (13-10, 11-6), Saint Mary (10-13, 9-8) 

Box Score 

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. -- Evangel Women's Basketball hit the road on Wednesday (Feb. 5) evening, looking to continue their winning streak and earn another big win in conference play, this time against the Spires of Saint Mary. In their second consecutive game, the Valor took advantage of a dominant second quarter, but USM was able to fight back. Despite the Valor trailing by five with six minutes remaining, the Evangel defense used timely defensive stops paired with baskets to storm back, taking a 79-72 win on the road.

Saint Mary jumped out to an early seven point lead on Wednesday, 6-13, before a free throw from Kamie Jenkins and jumper from Ali Kamies put the Valor down by four points. Another run from the Spires pushed the home team to a nine point lead, their largest of the evening, 11-20, before a jumper from Alyssa McCarty made it a 13-20 deficit for EU at the end of the period.

The Valor dominated in the second quarter, using strong play from Carson Dillard to take the advantage. Dillard opened the quarter with a three pointer while the Valor defense held Saint Mary scoreless for nearly five minutes, going on a 13-3 run to take a 26-23 lead. Another Dillard jumper, part of her 15 point second quarter, helped continue to grow the Evangel lead which ballooned to 16 points, 39-23, on a Kamies jump shot. The Spires closed the quarter on a 5-0 run, as EU led 39-28 at the halftime break.

Evangel matched their largest lead of 16 points on three different occasions in the third quarter on baskets from Resa Martin, Jenkins, and Kamies. After their final 16-point lead, 52-36, Saint Mary generated an 11-0 run over a four minute period to draw within five points of the Valor lead, 52-47. A Martin free throw broke the scoring drought for Evangel, but again the Spires hit a three to narrow EU's lead to just three points, 53-50. Kamies closed the quarter for EU by hitting a pair of free throws before another three pointer from USM made it a 55-53 game, heading into the final quarter of play.

The Valor offense continued to struggle into the beginning of the fourth quarter, as Saint Mary was able to take a 55-58 lead over EU. Jazzy Kirby nailed a three pointer to tie the game back up at 58, breaking another Evangel scoring drought. A USM free throw and three pointer was nearly matched by an old fashioned three point play for Jenkins, as EU trailed 61-62 with under seven minutes remaining. The Valor trailed 61-66 with just six minutes remaining and needed a run to get back within reach. Multiple stops by Lydia Babirye and the Valor defense helped EU fuel a 14-0 run that proved to be the difference in Wednesday's game, as the Valor closed out the game with a 79-72 victory.

QUOTABLE 

"What a big road win! We had 11 players on the floor tonight and all contributed. Carson took over in the second quarter as we outscored Saint Mary by 18 points," stated Head Coach Jim Middleton. "Saint Mary came back in the second half and took the lead, but our defense stepped up and contested shots and our rebounding was a big reason for our finish."

NOTABLE 

• Carson Dillard led the Valor with 26 points in Wednesday's win.

• Kamie Jenkins (11 pts.) and Resa Martin (10 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for Evangel. 

• Jenkins finished with a double-double, pulling down 14 rebounds.

• Lydia Babirye finished with three timely steals in the win.

UP NEXT 

Evangel returns home on Saturday (Feb. 8) afternoon to host the York Panthers at 12:00 p.m. in AGFinancial Arena.

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.