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Women's basketball season comes to an end
March 20, 2009
Contact: Ed Beach, Evangel University Athletics, (417) 865-2815, ext. 7417
Thursday, March 19 - NAIA-I Women's National Tournament, Oman Arena
Lady Crusaders 62
Lee (Tenn.) 63
Jackson, Tenn. — Evangel University's women's basketball season ended Thursday as their upset bid against fifth ranked Lee University fell short 63-62 in the opening round of the NAIA Division I Women's National Tournament in Jackson, Tennessee.
Valeriya Musina drove baseline, scored and converted on a free throw that came on an accompanying foul with 1.5 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Flames from two points behind.
Kara Blankenship put Evangel ahead 62-60 on a 12-foot shot from the baseline with 17 seconds remaining before Lee's conversion in the final second.
The Lady Crusaders stunned Lee early with an 8-0 run to start the game, but Flames responded and led by as much as 12 late in the first half before Evangel cut the Lee lead to 41-34 at halftime.
The Lady Flames built a 10-point lead with 13 minutes remaining before Evangel rallied again. Lee never trailed until free throws by Ashlee Luko put Evangel ahead 56-55 with 5:12 remaining. The two teams then traded leads twice down in addition to four ties down the stretch.
Ashlee Luko led Evangel with 19 points while Kara Blankenship added 16 and Brianna Mingus contributed 14.
Center Katie Nelson and Valeriya Musina both had 21 to lead all scorers.
"We had our chances and it came down to one play...and it could have gone either way," said Evangel head coach Leon Neal. "I told our kids after the game to keep their heads up because they earned a lot of respect today. Coming (to the national tournament) and being able to compete this well with as many injuries as we've had is a good sign for us down the road."
Evangel earned a trip to the national tournament winning the Heart of America confernece regular season title despite injuries to Melissa Hogan (concussion), Caitlin Russell (knee), Kelsie Hargus (knee) and Whitney Pollard played the final three weeks of the season despite torn knee ligaments.
The Lady Crusaders ended the season with a record of 21-11. Lee improved to 29-5 and advanced to the second round of the NAIA-I Women's National Tournament where they will play Biola (Calif.) in the second round.