Evangel at Bethany University
7:30 p.m. (CST) December 28
Scotts Valley, Calif.
Evangel vs. Cal Maritime
4:30 p.m. (CST) December 29
Scotts Valley, Calif.
After traveling to Florida for Christmas Classic action the past four seasons, Evangel is on the other coast this year for games in the Bethany University Christmas Classic in Scotts Valley, Calif. EU’s last trip to California for a Christmas Classic was during the 2002-03 season. EU played in the California Baptist Christmas Classic in Riverside.
Evangel is 2-7 overall. The Lady Crusaders are coming off losses to two undefeated and nationally ranked teams. Evangel lost 79-62 at No. 23-ranked (NCAA II) Missouri Southern on Dec. 19 and dropped a hard-fought, 67-61, decision at home to No. 1-ranked College of the Ozarks on Dec. 11.
Host Bethany University is 1-9 and plays at Fresno Pacific University on Dec. 27. The Lady Bruins’ win was an overtime victory at William Jessup University by a 51-36 score. Bethany lost its first eight games this year.
Cal Maritime is 2-6. The Keelhaulers’ wins were both at home. Cal Maritme defeated Southwestern (Ariz.) 79-54 on Nov. 10 and Dominican (67-64).
The Lady Crusaders traveled to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin on Dec. 19 and lost 79-62. Missouri Southern is ranked No. 23 in NCAA II. EU’s stats were comparable to MSSU’s, with one exception. Evangel had 23 turnovers, which led to 26 MSSU points. Missouri Southern had nine miscues, which led to nine EU points. The Lady Crusaders made 23 of 24 free throw attempts (.929) and 7 of 14 3-pointers. EU’s scoring was led by Megan Jewell. She scored 16 points and tied the school record with 10 of 10 marksmanship from the line. Katie Burger had five rebounds and added nine points.
Whitney Pollard, Evangel’s starting post player, was ill with the flu and missed the Avila (Dec. 6) and College of the Ozarks (Dec. 11) games. She didn’t start, but managed to play six minutes at Missouri Southern.
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 293-152 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.
Bethany is led by Jason Foster in his first year.
David Covell is Cal Maritime’s head coach. Covell (Holy Names College, Calif., 2002) is in his fourth year with the Keelhaulers.
Evangel: Brianna Mingus (5-6, So., G) 10.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .357 3FG% (15-42), .810 FT% (17-21); Megan Jewell (5-7, Fr., G) 9.6 ppg, 2.2 assists; Kelsie Hargus (5-10, Fr., F) 8.8 ppg; Katie Burger (6-1, So., C) 7.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg; Melissa Hogan (5-7, Fr., G) 2.8 assists
Bethany: Rosie Brown (5-10, Jr., F) 8.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg; Heather Mazza (5-7, Jr. G) 7.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.8 assists, 82.8 FT% (24-29)
Cal Maritime: Keniya Thurman (5-7, So., G) 18.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 38.7 3FG% (24-62); Lauren Westbrook (5-9, So., G) 17.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 39.0 3FG% (16-41), 82.8 FT% (24-29); Nakia Watson (5.7, Sr., G) 11.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.7 assists; Ariella Gatton (5-11, Fr., C) 7.0 rpg; Jessica Dillman (6-0, Jr., C) 6.4 rpg.
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), 2005 graduate of Carthage (Mo.) High School, won two all-conference first team honors, was a member of the district all-star team, earned second team all-area honor, scored 1,044 points, averaged 14.4 points and 6.5 rebounds
Samantha Haraldson (6-0, So., C) earned first letter, improved rapidly during 2006-07 season, 2006 graduate of Morrisville High School
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), 2006 graduate of Logan-Rogersville High School
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, 2004 graduate of Brentwood High School (Tenn.), all-district tournament team member, team captain, averaged 12.0 points
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
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