January 9, 2008
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Game 13
Evangel host Lindenwood
5:30 p.m. January 10
Ashcroft Center: Springfield, Mo.
Evangel Radio Broadcast and Webcast
ESPN Radio (KGMY, 1400 AM)
www.allinbroadcasting.com
Play-by-play: Ed Beach
Color Commentary: Leslie Callison
Evangel is 4-8 overall and 1-3 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Lady Crusaders dropped their most recent game, 79-62, at conference foe Graceland on Jan. 5. Prior to the loss, EU had won two games in the Bethany University Christmas Classic in Scotts Valley, Calif. EU defeated the host, Bethany, 52-48 on Dec. 28 and downed Cal Maritime 54-39 the next day.
The Lindenwood Lions are 6-8 overall and 2-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The Lady Lions lost at home to No. 13-ranked William Jewell, 77-44, on Jan. 7. The loss is Lindenwood’s second in a row after winning three straight. Conference wins have been against Avila (82-77, OT) and Central Methodist (66-59). In addition to their loss versus William Jewell, the Lady Lions have lost to Missouri Valley (91-83), MidAmerica Nazarene (76-67) and Baker (77-73, OT).
Evangel lost its third conference game of the season at Graceland on Jan. 5 by six points, 72-66. Brianna Mingus paced EU with 19 points and also had four rebounds and two assists and she made all seven of her free throw attempts. Kelsie Hargus added 15 points, four rebounds and five assists. Ashlee Luko tallied 10 points and pulled down a career-high nine rebounds. She also had three assists and five steals. Although Evangel outscored Graceland 38-35 in the second half, Graceland’s 37-28 halftime lead gave the host enough of a cushion to secure the win. Ieshia Randall led GU’s scoring with 21 points and also had seven assists. Kristin Osborn scored 14 points. Jenna Butler led all rebounders with 10 boards and finished with seven points, three assists and a pair of steals.
Burger Records First Double-Double
Katie Burger poured in 13 points and brought down 12 rebounds versus Bethany University (Calif.) on Dec. 28 to record the first double-double of her career. It is also the first double-double by an EU player this season.
The Lady Lions lost 77-44 at home to nationally ranked William Jewell on Jan. 7. William Jewell is ranked No. 13 on the Dec. 12 poll. A new poll will be released Jan. 9. William Jewell enjoyed a 36-16 halftime lead and held the Lady Lions to a 24.6 field goal percentage (WJ was 41.4). Lindenwood controlled the boards, 43-37. The teams combined for 58 turnovers (LU 33, WJ 25).
Lindenwood’s scoring was led by Cassie Williams, who scored 10 points and had five rebounds. Natalie Hooss led LU’s rebounding with five rebounds.
Coaching the Game
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 295-153 record at Evangel. He needs only five more wins to reach 300. 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.
Lindenwood is led by Chanda Jackson in her sixth year. Jackson (Washington-St. Louis, 1992) is 61-92 in six years at Lindenwood.
Evangel leads the series 26-7 and had won the last 13 games before dropping a 73-68 decision in St. Charles last season. EU won the second game in 2006-07, defeating Lindenwood 68-56 in Springfield. At home, Evangel has a 15-2 series advantage and has won the last 12 games versus Lindenwood in the Ashcroft Center. Lindenwood’s last win at Evangel was in the Evangel Thanksgiving tournament on Nov. 19, 1993 (64-62). The Lady Lions also won at Evangel during the previous season, defeating EU 60-40 on Nov. 20, 1992.
Tag Morris (5-10, G/F, Jr.), who played at College of the Ozarks during the first 11 games of this season, will suit up for Evangel for the first time on Jan. 10. A computer science major, Morris cited academic reasons for her transfer from C of O to Evangel during the break between semesters. Morris played in 13 games for the Lady Bobcats and saw three starts while averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds. 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals. She made 35.9 percent of her field goals (23-64), including 12 of 37 from 3-point range (.324) and had a 75.9 free throw percentage (22-29). Not a regular starter, Morris averaged 18.2 minutes per game - the most of any player off the C of O bench.
Prior to her short stint at College of the Ozarks, Morris experienced two injury-plagued seasons at Missouri State. She was a redshirt in 2005-06 after a preseason knee injury in October. Morris started the first two games of the 2006-07 season at MSU before being sidelined by injury after the Seton Hall game on Nov. 12. She returned to the lineup on Feb. 12 at Wichita State and finished the season with averages of 3.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12 games.
Morris graduated from Blue Eye (Mo.) High School in 2005. She earned two first team all-state honors and set school career records of 2,259 points, 1,223 rebounds, 531 steals and 513 assists. During her senior year, Morris led Blue Eye to the Southwest Central League regular season and tournament championships with a 25-3 record and was named the league MVP. She averaged 21 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals per game as a senior to earn a McDonald’s All-America nomination.
| Rank | Team | Conference Record |
Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine | 5-0 | 13-2 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene | 5-0 | 10-5 | |
| 3 | William Jewell | 3-1 | 10-4 |
| 4 | Graceland | 4-2 | 10-4 |
| 5 | Baker | 3-3 | 8-8 |
| Missouri Valley | 3-3 | 6-6 | |
| 7 | Lindenwood | 2-4 | 6-8 |
| Central Methodist | 2-4 | 4-11 | |
| 9 | Avila | 2-5 | 6-10 |
| 10 | Evangel | 1-3 | 4-8 |
| 11 | Culver-Stockton | 0-7 | 4-10 |