The Basics

Score: #17 Evangel 79, Bethel 81 (OT)

Records: Evangel (17-2, 14-1), Bethel (15-7, 12-4)

Location: North Newton, Kan. (Thresher Gym)

Box Score 

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. – Evangel WBB hit the road for a brief road trip on Saturday (Jan. 31) afternoon, hosting the Bethel College Threshers. Taking on one of the top teams in the conference, the Valor battled, but late foul trouble in a game that required an extra period to find a victor proved detrimental, as EU fell in their first game since early November, 81-79.

EU and Bethel played a tight first quarter, but the Thresher were able to take a five point lead with 3:45 remaining, 15-10. Baskets from Brooklyn Kearbey and Alyssa McCarty helped the Valor tie the game up at 19-19, before Kamie Jenkins and Heaven Shockley both scored to give EU a 23-19 lead at the end of the quarter.

Shockley and Lydia Babirye opened scoring for EU in the second quarter, adding 10 points to the Valor total. A pair of three pointers from Carson Dillard would wrap scoring for Evangel in the second period, as EU extended their lead out to 11 points at the halftime break, 44-33.

Bethel outscored Evangel by nine points in the third quarter, as the Threshers defense began to force several EU turnovers. A pair of Ali Kamies free throws at the end of the period allowed EU to lead by two points, 56-54, heading into the final quarter of play.

The Valor and Threshers battled in the fourth quarter, but Shockley and Jenkins both opened the quarter with four fouls. Shockley fouled out with seven minutes remaining in the game, with the game tied at 60-60. Just four minutes later, Jenkins fouled out, as EU led by a point, 71-70. A pair of McCarty free throws gave EU a three point lead with 2:08 remaining, but a turnover and missed attempt from both teams resulted in an extra period, 73-73.

Neither team was able to take more than a two point lead in Saturday's overtime period, as Babirye and Cassidy Hambelton both scored to tie the game up at 77-77. Free throws for both teams tied the game up at 79 points, but Bethel was able to score a layup to lead 81-79. An Evangel turnover was followed by a missed Thresher three, but Bethel came away with an offensive rebound, draining the clock and sending their player to the free throw line. The Threshers missed both at the line, but a runner came up just shy of the mark for Evangel, as EU ultimately came up short, 81-79.

NOTABLE 

• Heaven Shockley and Lydia Babirye led EU in scoring with 14 points each.

• Alyssa McCarty (13 pts.) and Ali Kamies (11 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring for EU.

• Heaven Shockley pulled down a team high 10 rebounds.

UP NEXT

Evangel WBB returns home to host the Sterling College Warriors at 5:30 p.m. on Monday (Feb. 2) evening in Springfield.

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.