Evangel hosts College of the Ozarks
Wednesday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Leggett & Platt Athletic Center - Joplin, Mo.
Evangel is 2-6 overall. The Lady Crusaders’ most recent game was on Dec. 11 at home vs. No.1-ranked (NAIAII) and area rival College of the Ozarks. C of O won 67-61.
College of the Ozarks was undefeated when it made its appearance in Ashcroft Center. And now the Lady Crusaders face another undefeated team - Missouri Southern State University - and this time on its home court. Missouri Southern is 8-0 and ranked No. 24 on the latest USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. In preseason action, the Lions lost by just five points, 52-47, in an exhibition game at the University of Arkansas. MSSU then defeated Livin’ the Dream 74-49 in a home exhibition game.
Missouri Southern leads the series versus Evangel, 24-10, and has won the last 16 games between the two teams. Last season, Missouri Southern defeated Evangel, 81-57, on Nov. 25, the second day of Missouri Southern’s Pizza Inn/Fairfield Inn Thanksgiving Classic. Evangel’s last win against Missouri Southern was a 101-70 victory during the 1980-81 season at home.
The Lady Crusaders played the No. 1-ranked team in NAIA II, College of the Ozarks, even in the first half, but the visiting Lady Bobcats were able to escape with a six-point win, 67-61. EU utilized its bench to outscore C of O’s bench, 25-11, and the advantage in the paint, 30-22. C of O led 11-1 on second change points, had a slim 30-29 rebounding advantage, and committed more turnovers, 22-18. EU made 47.9 percent of its shots (3-12 3-pointers, .250) and C of O connected on 43.9 percent (6-22 treys, .273). At the line, EU made 60.0 percent of its tries (12-20) and C of O made 67.6 percent (25-37).
Evangel was led by Brianna Mingus, who scored 15 points. EU’s rebounding was topped by Ashley Luko’s seven caroms.
Missouri Southern traveled to Tahlequah, Okla., to face Northeastern State University on Dec. 17 and came back to Joplin with a 70-62 win. Thirty-nine of MSSU’s 70 points were scored by players coming off the bench. Players who didn’t start and scored in double figures are Ela Zawadka (13 points), Trice Bonner (11) and Fatai Hala’Api’Api’ (10). Hala’Api’Api’ led the MSSU rebounding with eight boards and Bonner had four. India Wood was the only starter with a double-figure game (11). She also had five rebounds and eight assists.
Missouri Southern trailed 33-31 at the half, but a 58.3 second half field goal percentage helped put the Lions up by as many as 16 points with 5:34 left in the game. Northeastern State then began to rally, but came up eight points shy of the win.
Whitney Pollard, Evangel’s starting post player, has been ill with the flu and has missed EU’s last two games. Her status for the Missouri Southern game is questionable.
Evangel is led by Leon Neal. Neal began his 14th year as EU’s head women’s basketball coach in 2007-08 and has a 293-151 record at Evangel. Neal (Evangel, 1989) has directed six of his teams to Heart of America Athletic Conference championships and the EU ladies have advanced to the NAIA II national tournament six times with Neal at the helm.
Missouri Southern is led by Maryann Mitts (Rockhurst, 1992). Mitts is in her seventh season at MSSU and has a 106-71 record.