SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Sterling College fell to No. 17 Evangel , 80-70, on Monday, Feb. 2, despite scoring 32 points in the paint and forcing 20 turnovers.
The Lady Warriors opened the first quarter strong, leveraging defensive stops and quick transitions to maintain scoring opportunities. Kali Briar‘s jumper and McKenna Vogl‘s layup kept the team within reach, as Sterling capitalized on turnovers by forcing three steals. Despite trailing early, Rori Miles‘ two free throws narrowed the gap, contributing to a tight contest.
Momentum shifted as Sterling took the lead with Bailey Young‘s jumper at 2:53, but Valor responded with a series of successful shots from beyond the arc. Sterling remained resilient, closing the quarter with Navaeh Johnson’s layup in the final seconds, narrowing Evangel’s lead to 19–16.
The Lady Warriors initiated the second quarter with a quick turnover conversion, as Karlee Jacobs assisted Vogl for a fastbreak layup, leveling the score at 18–18. Despite this early momentum, Sterling struggled to sustain offensive pressure, facing defensive rebounds and turnovers that hindered their scoring opportunities.
Evangel capitalized on Sterling’s turnovers and fouls, extending their advantage with key baskets from beyond the arc and inside the paint. Sterling managed to trim the deficit late in the quarter, with Gracie Oard sinking a 3-pointer to close the gap. However, Evangel closed the quarter maintaining a 41–27 lead.
Sterling initiated a strong push in the third quarter, closing the gap with effective scoring and defensive plays. Vogl contributed early with free throws, and Miles added a crucial tip-in and jumper, fueling a scoring drive. Jacobs capitalized on turnovers with fast-break points, keeping the momentum on the Lady Warrior’s side.
Despite Evangel’s attempts to maintain their lead, Sterling’s defense forced key turnovers, with Jacobs and Briar capitalizing on opportunities to narrow the deficit. Briar’s timely three-pointer and Jacobs’ consistent free-throw shooting further cut into the lead. The quarter concluded with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Jacobs, narrowing Evangel’s lead to 54–51.
The Lady Warriors opened the fourth quarter with a quick turnover and fast-break layup by Jacobs, tying the game at 54–54. Despite a strong effort, including a 3-pointer by Kali Briar that kept Sterling within striking distance, Evangel responded with a series of free throws and a critical 3-pointer by Cassidy Hambelton to regain momentum.
As the quarter progressed, Sterling’s efforts to close the gap were evident with a sequence of defensive rebounds and another 3-pointer by Briar, but Evangel maintained their lead through consistent scoring from the free-throw line. The quarter ended with Evangel extending their lead, despite Sterling’s attempts to rally, resulting in a final score of 80–70 in favor of Evangel.
Karlee Jacobs scored 19 points and recorded three steals, contributing significantly on both ends of the court. Kali Briar added 17 points, including three 3-pointers, and collected seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Rori Miles shot efficiently, scoring 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting and grabbed five rebounds. McKenna Vogl provided defensive support with two blocks and five rebounds.
Sterling College (14-8, 10-6) will continue conference action against Bethel College (15-7, 12-4) on Wednesday, Feb. 4 in the Gleason Center with a 6 p.m. tip-off.
Be sure to check for news and updates on Sterling Warrior Athletics on Facebook (/SCWarriors), Twitter (@SterlingCSports), and Instagram (sterlingcsports), as well as the hashtag #SwordsUp. Watch the Warriors’ live home events on the Sterling College Sports Network.
