Evangel hosts Culver-Stockton
Saturday, Dec. 1
Ashcroft Center* Springfield, Mo.
The Evangel women will play their first home game of the season on Dec. 1 vs. Culver-Stockton.
The Lady Crusaders are off to a 1-4 start and lost their first Heart of America Athletic contest, 75-66, at Central Methodist on Nov. 29. 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 Evangel women’s complete schedule is in the column to the left.
The Culver-Stockton women enter the game with a 4-3 record and are 0-1 in the conference after losing at home to Graceland, 60-58, on Nov. 29. The Lady Wildcats have had an up-and-down season to date. They began the season with a 55-53 win at Hannibal-LaGrange, but followed that win with a 68-59 loss at home to Iowa Wesleyan. C-SC then won at Clarke College, 81-53, and at home vs. McKendree, 60-44. The Lady Wildcats then lost 60-46 at home to Mount Mercy and won 81-69 at Illinois College before dropping their conference opener at home to Graceland, 60-58.
ov. 29, the Lady Crusaders lost 75-66 at Central Methodist in Fayette, Mo. EU held a 38-32 lead at the half, but the Lady Eagles outscored Evangel 43-28 in the second half to post the win. CMU shot better from the field, 53.3 to 38.7 percent, was more accurate from the free throw line, 64.7 (22-34) to 55.0 (11-20) percent, and won the battle of the boards, 40-30.
Brianna Mingus led EU with a season-best 23 points. Kelsie Hargus added 10 points and five rebounds. Caitlin Russell led Evangel’s rebounding with six boards.
Central Methodist was led by Danielle Boraz, who recorded a double-double. Boraz scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Holly Wade tallied 18 points and Stephanie Todd chipped in 13 points.
The Lady Wildcats opened their Heart of America Athletic Conference season at home on Nov. 29 with a two-point loss to Graceland, 60-58. C-SC scored the last bucket, but needed one more possession to have a chance to send the game into overtime or win it. Libby Cottey led Culver-Stockton with 16 points and nine rebounds. She made 8 of 14 field goals. Breezy Guymon added nine points. Culver-Stockton shot better, 41-3 to 36.7 percent, but was out-rebounded by Graceland, 49-41. Graceland had more tries and better success at the free throw stripe, making 9 of 16 for 56.3 percent. Culver-Stockton made one of eight for a 16.7 percentage.
Evangel holds a slim 27-26 lead in the series with Culver-Stockton. EU had won 13 straight against Culver-Stockton before losing 64-50 in Canton, Mo., during the 2005-06 season. Last season (2006-07) both teams won on the opponent’s home floor. EU won 67-56 in Canton and C-SC won 52-40 in Springfield.
Evangel is led by Leon Neal in his 14th year. Neal (Evangel, 1989) is currently 292-149 at Evangel. His teams have won six conference titles and advanced to the NAIA II national tournament six times.
Culver-Stockton’s head coach is Dan Chapla (Ottawa, 1993). Chapla is 69-88 (add in this season) in six seasons at Culver-Stockton.
Scoring: Brianna Mingus (9.6), Kelie Hargus (8.2), Katie Burger (7.8)
Rebounding: Kate Prentice (4.6)
Assists: Melissa Hogan (3.8)
Steals: Melissa Hogan (2.5)
FG%: Katie Burger (53.8, 14-26), Kelsie Hargus (51.9, 14-27)
3FG%: Kelsie Hargus (46.2, 6-13)
FT%: Kelsie Hargus (77.8, 7-9)
Scoring: Kristin Allen (13.3), Libby Cottey (12.1), Breezy Guymon (10.6)
Rebounding: Kristin Allen (7.6), Alysa Strickland (7.0), Libby Cottey (6.6)
Assists: Kristin Allen (3.1), Alysa Strickland (2.9)
Steals: Alysa Strickland (1.1)
Blocks: Kristin Allen (1.9, 13 total)
FG%: Libby Cottey (58.2, 39-67), Kristin Allen (45.2, 33-73)
3FG%: Breezy Guymon (35.7, 15-42)
FT%: Kristin Allen (81.8, 27-33)
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