Evangel University
at Central Methodist
Thursday, Nov. 29
Puckett Field House* Fayette, Mo.
Evangel’s game at Central Methodist will mark the beginning of the Heart of America Athletic Conference season for both teams.
The Lady Crusaders are off to a 1-3 record. The three losses were to No. 1-ranked (NAIA II) College of the Ozarks (82-63) and NCAA DII schools Northwest Missouri (57-55) and the University of Central Missouri (87-67). All three games were on the road. Evangel’s win came against Briar Cliff in the Northwest Missouri Classic (60-56).
The Central Methodist Eagles are 2-5. CMU got off to an 0-2 start with two losses in the Southern Nazarene Classic. The Eagles lost to the host, Southern Nazarene (97-73) and then lost to Oklahoma Baptist (80-49). CMU then won its first game of the season, posting a victory over William Woods (78-74). Central Methodist followed that win with a home loss to Missouri Baptist (78-74) and then picked up its second victory of the year at Hannibal-LaGrange (59-41). The Eagles then dropped their two most recent games. They lost at Webster (64-63) and at Haskell Indian Nations (67-57).
Evangel leads the series 41-22 and has won 13 of the last 14 meetings. The Lady Crusaders had won 12 in a row prior to losing to CMU, 58-55, last season in Springfield. Evangel would later avenge that loss by defeating CMU 66-45 in Fayette, Mo. Prior to the 12-game winning streak, EU lost at CMU on Dec. 2, 2000 (67-63). Including that CMU win, the Lady Eagles had won 8 of 10 before Evangel reeled off the 12 straight victories. The first game between the Evangel and Central Methodist was played during the 1969-70 season and the Lady Eagles won 52-34.
Evangel is led by Leon Neal in his 14th year. Neal (Evangel, 1989) is currently 292-148 at Evangel. His teams have won six conference titles and advanced to the NAIA II national tournament six times.
Andrea Brooks (Western State College, Colo., 2003) is Central Methodist’s head coach. Brooks began her second season at the helm in 2007-08 and has a 7-27 record at CMU.
Evangel freshman Kelsie Hargus is ranked No. 1 in NAIA II 3-point shooting. She has made six of nine treys for a .667 average.
Katie Burger (6-0, So., G) sat out 2006-07 for personal reasons, played in 30 games in 2005-06 and earned letter, 3.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 38.3 FG% (41-107)
Samantha Haraldson (6-0, So., C) earned first letter, improved rapidly during 2006-07 season
Brianna Mingus (5-6, So., G) earned first letter, EU’s starting point guard as a freshman, won third team all-conference honors, won team’s rookie of the year award, 12.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 70 assists (2.4), 24 steals (0.8), 41.3 3FG% (52-126), 87.8 FT% (65-74)
Kate Prentice (5-10, Sr., F) earned third letter in 2006-07, won Daktronics-NAIA II Scholar-Athlete award, one of three players to win team’s Discipleship Award for spiritual leadership
Lindsey Burnett (5-8, Jr., G): transfer from Southwestern Assemblies of Assemblies of God, played two years at SWAG, 2005 graduate of Argyle (Texas) High School, team captain
Kelsie Hargus (5-10, Fr., G): 2007 grad of Marion D. Early High School (Morrisville, Mo.), 1st team all-state Missouri Basketball Coaches Association, 1st team all-state Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Class 2, 1st team all-Ozarks four years, two-time conference MVP, 1st team all-district three years McDonald’s All-America nominee, 24.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg, 2 spg
Melissa Hogan (5-7, Fr., PG): 2007 grad of Ozark (Mo.) High School, 1st team all-district, academic all-state pick, 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.1 spg
Megan Jewell (5-7, Fr., G): 2007 grad of Willard (Mo.) High School, 1st team all-state Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 4, 2nd team all-state Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Class 4, 1st team all-Ozarks, 1st team all-conference, 1st team all-district, team MVP as junior and senior, 21.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 apg, 2.0 spg
Ashley Jurgensmeyer (6-0, Fr., C): 2007 grad of Osceola (Mo.) High School, 1st team all-state Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 2, three-year all-conference pick, two-year all-district selection, 14.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 2.5 spg, 1.5 bpg
Ashlee Luko (5-6, Fr., G): 2007 graduate of Nixa (Mo.) High School, 1st team all-state Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 5, 1st team all-state Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Class 5, academic all-state pick, 1st team all-Ozarks, 1st team all-district, 1st team all-conference, team MVP as junior and senior, 17.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg
Michelle Michener (6-1, So., C): 2006 homeschooled grad, transfer from Southwestern Assemblies of God, averaged 9.0 points and 10 rebounds at Southwestern A/G
Danielle Noah (5-10, Fr., F): 2007 Lutie (Theodosia, Mo.) High School grad, team MVP, won team’s best all-around player and best offense and sportsmanship awards, won all-state and all-conference honors her junior year
Whitney Pollard (5-11, Jr., F): transfer from Hannibal-LaGrange College, earned two letters and started two seasons at H-LC, 2004 graduate of Springfield’s Glendale High School
Caitlin Russell (5-8, Fr., G): 2007 grad of Springfield’s Hillcrest High School, 1st team all-conference, 1st team all-district, 14.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.4 apg, 2.3 spg