January 11, 2008
Contact: Evangel University Athletics 865-2815, Ext. 7282
Game 14
Evangel at Missouri Valley
2 p.m. January 12
Burns Ath. Complex: Grover Redford Gym
Marshall, 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 4-9 overall and 1-4 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play. The Lady Crusaders lost at home to conference opponent Lindenwood University on Jan. 12 by a 66-62 score.
Missouri Valley College is 7-6 overall and 4-3 in Heart of America Athletic Conference games. The Lady Vikings were at Central Methodist on Jan. 10 and won 87-68.
Evangel lost at home to Lindenwood, 66-62, on Jan. 10. The Lady Crusaders led 33-32 at the half, but couldn’t quite hold off the Lady Lions at the end to suffer the four-point loss. Newly-added transfer (College of the Ozarks), Tag Morris, led the EU ladies with 12 points. She also had five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Kelsie Hargus chipped in with eight points. Kate Prentice shared the rebounding honors with Morris, bringing down eight boards. Even though Lindenwood had more turnovers, 22-15, and the rebounding was close (34 LU, 31 EU), the visiting Lady Lions made 53.7 percent of their field goals and held EU to 35.1 percent. Natalie Hooss led Lindenwood with 16 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Crystal Castillo chipped in 15 points for Lindenwood.
Missouri Valley traveled to Fayette, Mo., to face Central Methodist and made the trip back to Marshall with an 87-68 win. Missouri Valley blew open a close game (41-39 MV at the half), outdistancing Central Methodist 46-29 over the final 20 minutes to take the 19-point win. Bonnie Johnson led Missouri Valley with 33 points and 10 rebounds. Nicole Allison also had a double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds.
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 295-154 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.
Missouri Valley is led by Keith Lindahl (St. Thomas, 1986). Lindahl is in his third year at Missouri Valley and is 38-36. Overall, Lindhal is in his eighth year as a head coach and has a 138-73 record.
Evangel leads the series, 36-10. The Lady Crusaders had won 10 straight vs. Missouri Valley prior to last’s year’s loss in Marshall. Last season, Evangel won at home, 72-63, and lost at Missouri Valley, 78-70, in overtime. The Lady Crusaders’ last loss to Missouri Valley was on Feb. 7, 2002, at home (64-58).
At home, Evangel sports a 20-4 advantage and has won the last six vs. Missouri Valley in Ashcroft Center. EU’s last loss to MVC at home was on Feb. 7, 2002 (64-58). The other three home losses were on Feb. 19, 2001 (66-61), Feb. 27, 1988 (80-75) and Feb. 16, 1987 (72-64).
| Rank | Team | Conference Record |
Overall Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedictine | 6-0 | 14-2 |
| 2 | William Jewell | 6-1 | 13-4 |
| 3 | MidAmerica Nazarene | 5-1 | 10-6 |
| 4 | Graceland | 4-3 | 10-5 |
| 5 | Missouri Valley | 4-3 | 7-6 |
| 6 | Baker | 4-3 | 9-8 |
| 7 | Lindenwood | 3-4 | 7-8 |
| 8 | Avila | 2-5 | 6-10 |
| 9 | Central Methodist | 2-5 | 4-12 |
| 10 | Evangel | 1-4 | 4-9 |
| 11 | Culver-Stockton | 0-8 | 4-11 |