The Basics
Score: (RV) Evangel 61, Stephens 69
Records: Evangel (3-2), Stephens (5-2)
Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)
Box ScoreÂ
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Evangel Women's Basketball returned home on Wednesday (Nov. 11) evening, taking on the Stephens College Stars in AGFinancial Arena. A cold shooting performance from EU proved to be the difference on Wednesday, as the Valor could not overcome a 25.7 shooting percentage, falling 69-61 at home.
Both teams struggled to score to open the first quarter, as Evangel's Alyssa Walker buried a pair of free throws with 6:58 remaining to give EU a 2-0 lead. The next minute and a half resulted in a 7-0 Stephens run, before Kamie Jenkins scored back-to-back baskets to trail 7-6. Evangel again struggled to score in the quarter, until Brooklyn Kearbey nailed a jumper and Chloe Jones hit a three pointer at the buzzer to make the deficit just two points, 13-11.
Stephens took a 17-15 lead with 7:42 left in the first half, but three pointers from Jones and Evin Montgomery gave EU a four point lead, 21-17, their largest of the contest. The Stars responded in the period by going on an 11-0 run to make it a 28-21 ballgame. Baskets from Riley Gottsponer and Marlie Wright kept Evangel within reach of the Stars lead, 34-28, at the break.
The Stars came out quick to open the second half, taking a 12-point lead over Evangel, 42-30. Starters Lydia Babirye, Kearbey, Jenkins, and Wright helped EU narrow the Stephens lead to just three points, 42-39, with 5:01 remaining in the quarter, but again Stephens responded to halt the run. Evangel trailed 51-46 at the end of the quarter after a pair of free throws from Montgomery.
Evangel was able to get the Stephens lead down to just four to open the fourth quarter, but the Valor again struggled to shoot, putting up a 23 percent shooting performance in the final quarter of play. The Stars took advantage of the missed shots and empty possessions, capturing a double digit lead with under a minute to play. Jenkins closed out the game with an old-fashioned three point play, but the damage had been done, as EU fell, 69-61.
NOTABLEÂ
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Marlie Wright led the charge for EU, scoring 14 points in the loss.
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Kamie Jenkins (11 pts.) and Brooklyn Kearbey (11 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Wednesday.
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Jenkins pulled down a team high 18 rebounds in the loss.
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Lydia Babirye finished with six steals to lead the Valor.
UP NEXT
The Evangel Women's Basketball team hits the road to open KCAC play on Saturday (Nov. 14) afternoon, taking on the Saint Mary Spires at 2:00 p.m., in Leavenworth, Kansas.
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. Â
—#OneValor—
