SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Kansas Wesleyan women made just one field goal during the fourth quarter of a perilously close game against Evangel.
As they have done several times this season, though, the Coyotes found a way to win - this time with their prowess from the free throw line. They made 16 of 18 foul shots in the final 10 minutes, 9 of 10 the last 1:24, and held on for an 86-81 Kansas Conference victory inside AGFinancial Arena.
KWU (15-3) won for the third time in a row - all on the road - 13th in last the 14 and remains atop the KCAC standings at 11-1. Evangel fell to 9-9 and 7-5.
The Coyotes were in control the first 30 minutes of the game. They led 32-18 after one quarter, 42-29 at halftime and took a 67-50 lead into the fourth quarter.
Evangel rallied, though, scoring the first eight points of the final period then used a 12-1 run to get within 75-72 with 2:12 remaining.
LaMyah Ricks started the free throw barrage by making two with 1:24 left. Angel Lee then sank four in a row with 53 and 35 seconds remaining, respectively, to extend the lead to 83-73.
The Valor were within 83-78 with 19 seconds left after five consecutive points but Jill Stephens made two more free throws with 16 seconds left and Hampton Williams buried one with 7 seconds remaining. Evangel's Carson Dillard made a 3-pointer with running out for the game's final points.
KWU was 25 of 29 at the line for the game. Williams was 6 of 7, Odessa Ozuna 6 of 8, Ricks 5 of 6, and Lee and Stephens each 4 of 4.
"You've got to do that on the road against good teams," coach Ryan Showman said on the postgame radio show. "You find a way to win and we certainly did that."
The Coyotes shot 44 percent from the field (26 of 59) including 9 of 24 from the perimeter. They were 12 of 20 shooting in the first quarter but cooled off. Evangel shot 43.5 percent (30 of 69), was 8 of 16 beyond the 3-point arc and 13 of 19 at the line.
Ricks and Williams led a typically balanced scoring attack with 16 points apiece while Ozuna had 14, and Lee and Stephens 10 each. Williams also had 10 rebounds and three assists, Ozuna five rebounds and four assists, and Lee five rebounds and two blocks.
Dillard led Evangel with 32 points that included five 3-pointers. Kamie Jenkins added 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Ricks, KWU's senior point guard, returned to the starting lineup after missing the two previous games with an injury. She had eight rebounds, two assists and a steal in addition to her 16 points.
"She wanted to go but we found ways to win two games without her out there," Showman said. "Now I feel like we're back to being that complete team."