Box Score VALPARAISO, Ind. - Despite jumping out to an early lead, the University of Evansville women's basketball team fell to Valparaiso, 72-54, on the road on Thursday evening.

Jada Poland powered the Aces offensively, scoring 13 points, including a 3-4 performance from beyond the arc. Nearly reaching double-figures, freshman Abby Feit and Sydne Caddy each tallied eight points, as Feit led the Aces with 10 boards. 66 of the 72 total points from Valpo came from four players as Grace Hales led all-scorers with 20 points, hitting six three-pointers.

It was all Evansville in the early going and the Aces' three-point shooting fueled an early advantage. The Aces hit four of their first eight attempts from beyond the arc as Evansville saw its lead reach seven at 15-8 with three minutes left in the first quarter. The Aces lead sat at six heading into the second quarter and it was again the three ball that powered Evansville. Early in the second quarter, Jada Poland splashed home a pair of triples that pushed the Aces lead to what would be its largest point of the night at 11 at 27-16. The Crusaders slowly chipped away at Evansville's lead, closing within two at the half.
 

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Box Score (PDF)

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Valparaiso tied the game for the first time less than a minute into the third quarter as Carie Weinman hit a three-pointer. Evansville showed plenty of fight in the third, gaining a five-point advantage at 40-35 as Poland hit another triple. Following Poland's three, Valpo went on a 10-0 run that gave the Crusaders their first lead of the contest. Valpo continued to build its advantage as the Crusaders used a 34-9 run to pull away in the 72-54 win.

Evansville recorded 10 assists on 12 made baskets in the opening half, but recorded just four assists in the second half, making just seven shots from the field in the final 20 minutes. The tale of two halves also included turnovers, as Evansville turned the ball over just six times in the first half, but committed 14 turnovers in the second half.

Evansville returns to action on Saturday with a showdown with Loyola at 2 PM in Chicago.
 

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