Box Score EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Led by a pair of 20-point scorers, the University of Evansville erased a halftime deficit to earn a 77-65 win over Valparaiso on Friday evening inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
For the first time since Jan. 1, 2017, the Aces had two players finish with 20-or-more points as senior Marley Miller set a career-high with 25 points, while fellow senior Kerri Gasper recorded 22 points and 11 rebounds. The third Ace to score in double-figures was freshman Anna Newman, who set a career-high for the second-straight game with 16 points. Valparaiso was led by Addison Stoller, who tallied 15 points and nine rebounds.
The win was Evansville's first Missouri Valley Conference win since a 52-44 win on the road at Indiana State on March 4, 2017, snapping a 29-game conference losing streak.
Opening the game, the Aces took an early 8-3 advantage on six early points from Miller. Valparaiso responded, closing the quarter on a 15-2 run as Evansville went cold, shooting just 17.6% (3-17) from the field in the first quarter. The Aces began to find their rhythm in the second period, cutting into their 13-point deficit. On a pair of free throws from Newman, Evansville trimmed Valpo's lead to six at 31-25 with 2:27 left. Valpo built its lead back to double-digits at 37-27 with under two minutes remaining in the half, but Evansvile pushed back within seven at the break.
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Box Score (PDF)
In the third quarter, Evansville sprinted out of the half, using a 10-0 run to take its first lead since the first quarter. The Aces remained in rhythm, building a 10-point lead at the end of the quarter, holding Valpo to just 10 points in the period, while scoring 27 of their own. Evansville kept its foot on the accelerator to begin the fourth quarter as the Aces saw their lead grow as large as 19 on a three-point play by Gasper with 7:13 left on the clock. Trying to chip away at the Aces' lead, Valpo still had one run left in it as the visitors drew as close as 11 with 2:58 remaining in the game. After Valpo's 12-4 run, Evansville controlled the basketball, using time wisely and playing strong defense to hold onto its advantage and capture the 77-65 victory.
The Aces close their home weekend with a matchup with Loyola on Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
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