Evangel Evades Avila in Back-and-Forth Affair

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – In a game characterized by large scoring runs and dominant stretches for both sides, it was Evangel (4-3, 3-2 KCAC) that made the most of its chances down the stretch run, and the Valor escaped Avila (2-8, 2-3 KCAC) with a 71-63 victory in Springfield on Wednesday evening.

"A game of runs" has been a phrase used to describe just about every sport, but that adage certainly rang true for this particular game of basketball on Wednesday night. Avila dominated the odd-numbered quarters, outscoring Evangel by 19 over those two 20-minute periods, but Evangel was even better in the even periods, shutting down Avila in the second quarter and doing just enough in the fourth quarter for a net margin of 27 points in an eventual 8-point victory for the home team.

The first KCAC women's basketball contest between the two former HAAC foes was dead even early. Avila got three-pointers from Hannah Smith and Kathleen Stanley to keep pace with Evangel in the early goings before the Eagles caught fire down the stretch: with the score tied at 12 with 3:41 on the clock, Avila closed the quarter on a 12-2 run, including scoring the final 10 points of the period, to soar out to a 24-14 lead.

But if the Eagles were heating up in the first quarter, the Valor full on broke into metaphorical flames in the second quarter, piecing together a 22-0 run and holding Avila to just three points to completely flip the script and take a 38-27 lead going into halftime.

The Eagles, though, to their full credit, did not sink after a trying second quarter. Instead, Avila rallied right back, rediscovering some of the positive vibes – not to mention scoring ability – that it flashed in the first quarter and got right back into the game in no time at all. Smith and Stanley once again hit back-to-back threes to get Avila within 42-40, and then three straight points from Madilyn Melton gave the Eagles a 43-42 lead with 3:29 to go, their first lead since early in the second quarter.

The teams traded blows from there, with Evangel coming away with a slim 47-45 edge. Avila had a nine-point edge in scoring in that quarter to once again make it a game, and the visitors grabbed a lead immediately into the final frame off consecutive threes from Smith and Marlie Wright. The Eagles led by as many as six in the fourth quarter before the Valor once again flipped the script – and the scoreline – and finally pulled away and pulled out a hard-fought 71-63 win at home.

Kamie Jenkins led the Valor with a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Jazzy Kirby scored nine points with nine assists. Hannah Smith led all players with a season-high 21 points on five made threes; Wright finished with 11 points, five boards, three assists and four steals.

Up next, Avila women's basketball will stay on the road when they travel to face the Sterling Warriors this Saturday, December 9. The women will tip off the doubleheader at 2 PM with the men to follow at 4; as always, you can watch all the action on the KCAC Network.