WINFIELD, Kan. — The Southwestern College women's basketball team returns home Wednesday, Jan. 7, looking to turn the page in conference play when it hosts Evangel University at Stewart Field House.
Tipoff between the Lady Builders and the Valor is set for 5 p.m. in a Conference matchup.
Southwestern (4-10, 0-8) enters the contest still searching for its first conference victory after opening league play with eight straight losses. The Lady Builders dropped their most recent game, an 81-65 decision at York on Jan. 3.
The Lady Builders are averaging 61.9 points per contest while allowing 76.4, but have shown the ability to compete late, with five conference losses decided by 11 points or fewer. Southwestern has leaned heavily on its perimeter attack, averaging 7.4 made three-pointers per game.
Senior guard Macey Pond leads Southwestern in scoring and rebounding, averaging 16.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting better than 40 percent from the field. Breanna Goad has also been a consistent scoring threat, averaging 10.7 points per game while leading the team in made three-pointers. Martha De La Rosa adds another perimeter option at 10.2 points per game, while Aubrey Pond provides interior presence with 6.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest.
Evangel (11-1, 8-0) arrives in Winfield riding one of the conference's most dominant starts. The Valor remained unbeaten in league play with a 108-50 win over McPherson on Jan. 3 and are averaging a KCAC-best 97.4 points per game in conference action.
Evangel's balanced lineup features multiple scoring options, led by Heaven Shockley, who averages 16.5 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while anchoring the defense with more than two blocks per contest. Carson Dillard is a key perimeter threat at 15.5 points per game and shoots better than 43 percent from three-point range. Ali Kamies adds 12.1 points per game in conference play, while Cassidy Hambelton facilitates the offense, averaging nearly eight assists per contest.
Wednesday's meeting continues a series that has favored Evangel in recent years. The Valor hold a 4-0 advantage in the all-time series, including a narrow 71-68 win at Stewart Field House last season. That game saw Southwestern rally in the fourth quarter before coming up just short.
The Lady Builders will look to capitalize on home court, control the tempo, and limit Evangel's transition opportunities as they try to snap their conference skid and earn their first KCAC win of the season.
