Four Valpo women's basketball players scored in double figures on Friday evening and the Beacons used a fourth-quarter blitz to pull away and cruise to a 76-55 victory over Evansville at the ARC on the program's Girls & Women in Sports game.
 
How It Happened

• A quick start offensively for both teams saw Valpo holding a 13-10 lead at the first media timeout, exactly halfway through the first quarter.
• Out of the stoppage, the Beacons put together a quick 8-0 run over a span of 69 seconds, as Maci Rhoades (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) and Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) hit triples and Katie Beyer (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) converted inside to force an Evansville timeout.
• A fast-break layup by Earnest in the closing seconds of the opening period gave Valpo a 24-14 lead through 10 minutes.
• Valpo put together another spurt to open the second quarter, as Beyer finished a 3-point play and Earnest and Rhoades both had driving finishes to force another Evansville timeout, as the lead was up to 31-14 with 7:18 to play in the half.
• The Beacons' advantage grew as large as 19 points on a pair of free throws by Earnest with 3:04 to play in the half before the Purple Aces closed the stanza on an 8-2 run to close to within 40-27 at intermission.
• Valpo's lead was 15 with 6:04 to play in the third quarter, but a 10-1 Evansville run brought it to back within single digits. The Beacons held a 53-47 lead with 10 minutes to play.
• A triple by Nevaeh Jackson (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) on Valpo's first possession of the fourth quarter gave the Beacons a little more breathing room, and after a stretch of over two minutes without a point from either team, Earnest connected from deep to push the lead into double figures.
• Evansville came back with a 3-pointer on its next possession, but Earnest answered immediately with another trifecta. The next two times down the court, it was Valpo's other senior making plays, as Beyer had first an old-fashioned 3-point play and then a 3-pointer. A fast-break layup from Rhoades forced another timeout from the Purple Aces, as the lead ballooned to 70-50 with under five minutes to play thanks to an 11-0 run.

 
Inside the Game

• Valpo improved to 10-0 this year when holding its opponent to less than 60 points.
• The Beacons racked up a season-best 16 steals Friday, as four different players came up with three thefts apiece. It was the team's highest steal total since tallying 16 Nov. 25, 2023 against UAB.
• Valpo was a +12 in the turnover department, forcing 26 UE turnovers while coughing it up just 14 times, and held a 22-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
• Valpo hit 11 3-pointers in the win, its second straight game with double-digit triples and its sixth of the season.
• The Beacons improved to 3-0 against their fellow MVC Indiana-based brethren with Friday's win. With a win on Sunday, Valpo would go 4-0 versus the Indiana schools for just the second time since joining the Valley.
• Valpo finished with four players in double digits in scoring for the first time since its Nov. 30 win against North Dakota.
• Earnest led the way with 21 points, including three 3-pointers, and tied for team-high honors with seven rebounds. She is now just nine points away from cracking the program's single-season top-10 for scoring.
• Jackson connected on five 3-pointers Friday, her second-best total of the year, and finished with 18 points. The sophomore also tied her career best, handing out five assists.
• Beyer came off the bench with a 5-of-7 effort from the field to score 14 points and share the team rebounding high with Earnest with seven boards, matching her career best.
• Rhoades was the fourth Beacon in double figures in the scoring department, setting a career high with her 13 points. The junior also set a season best with three steals.

Postgame Press Conference - Mary Evans, Leah Earnest, Nevaeh Jackson, Katie Beyer 

Next Up
Valpo (10-16, 6-9) goes for a weekend sweep on Sunday as it welcomes Indiana State to the ARC. The program's Senior Day, the Beacons will recognize Katie Beyer and Leah Earnest in a ceremony prior to the game.