The Basics

Score: #1 Evangel 64, #7 Tabor 60

Records: Evangel (27-2), Tabor (16-15)

Location: Springfield, Mo. (AGFinancial Arena)

Box Score 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – After defeating the Saint Mary Spires to earn the right to advance to the KCAC Conference Tournament Championship, Evangel WBB hosted the seven-seeded Tabor College Bluejays, looking to earn the title. Both teams battled in what proved to be an exciting championship matchup, that Evangel took late, as a four point advantage from the first quarter proved to be the difference, 64-60.

Carson Dillard opened play for Evangel, nailing a pair of three pointers to take a 6-0 lead. Six consecutive points from Heaven Shockley and a basket from Ali Kamies gave EU their largest lead of the night, 14-4. Tabor was able to battle back in the period, going on a 11-3 run to close out the quarter, but Shockley scored another basket to push EU to a 19-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.

A basket from Shockley, followed by a jumper from Cassidy Hambelton put EU ahead by eight points, 23-15, with 8:35 remaining in the first half. The Bluejays quickly responded with a 7-0 run to draw within one point of Evangel's lead, 23-22, but Shockley and Kamies put a stop to the run, both scoring baskets to make it a five point EU advantage. The Valor were able to keep Tabor at arm's length at the halftime break, as Shockley nailed a buzzer beating floater, giving EU a 33-30 lead.

Despite Shockley scoring a basket to open the second half, Tabor was able to tie the game up at 35-35. Kamies and Alyssa McCarty both slowed the Bluejay run with baskets, making it a 39-35 ballgame with 7:12 remaining in the third quarter. Tabor was able to take a one-point lead over Evangel, but this time it was Brooklyn Kearbey coming in clutch, earning a steal after a made free throw from Hambelton to re-capture a 46-43 lead. Kamies closed the half by scoring a lay-up, as EU took a three-point lead into the fourth quarter, 48-45.

Evangel was able to grab a pair of six-point leads to open the fourth quarter, but Tabor quickly tied the game up 55-55. Hambelton scored a layup to give EU a two point lead, but a Bluejay three pointer gave Tabor a 58-57 lead. Lydia Babirye took over for the Valor, scoring a pair of layup to give EU a 61-58 lead. Over the following two minutes, neither team would score, until the Bluejays drew within one, 61-60, with 18 seconds remaining. Kamies nailed a pair of free throws after being fouled, taking a 63-60 lead, and Tabor came down the floor, missing a jumper with six seconds remaining that McCarty reeled in, hitting a free throw to ice the game as EU took a 64-60 win over Tabor, clinching the KCAC Conference Tournament title, their first conference tournament title since 2004-05.

QUOTABLE

"I'm so incredibly proud of this group and all of their hard work and dedication," stated head coach Madi Wallace. "Tonight, all of their hard work really paid off. Nobody deserves it more than this team!"

NOTABLE 

• Heaven Shockley led the charge for EU, scoring 18 points in Monday's win.

• Cassidy Hambelton (13 pts.) and Ali Kamies (13 pts.) rounded out double digit scoring on Monday.

• Alyssa McCarty pulled down a team high six rebounds in the win.

• Hambelton passed off seven assists on Monday.

UP NEXT

The Evangel Women's Basketball team will await to find out their opponent for the NAIA National Tournament Opening Rounds, as the Valor will host in Springfield next Friday (Mar. 13) evening at 5:00 p.m.

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.