Springfield, MO – The Lady Cats traveled to AG Financial Arena to open their season against the Valor of Evangel University Tuesday night. Dating back to 2014, the Lady Cats hoped to add to their six-game winning streak against the opponents.

The Lady Cats and the Valor exchanged points in the early going of the opening frame, with points coming from Blythe Benefield, Logan Jones, and Susie Moran. After two successful free throws from Logan Jones, the Lady Cats led 10-6 with 5:21 left in the quarter. A Valor three-pointer and layup would eliminate the Lady Cat lead. The teams stayed close through the first quarter, with a three-pointer from Abbey Linville and a layup from Blythe Benefield giving the Lady Cats a five-point advantage. With a minute left in the quarter and the Lady Cats up six, the Valor would cut the lead in half and the Lady Cats took a 22-19 lead into the first break.

Taylor Rush opened the second quarter with a three and Logan Jones added one of her own to put the Lady Cats up seven. After a jumper from Susie Moran and another Taylor Rush three, the Lady Cats held a commanding 33-21 lead. After a back-and-forth two minutes, Taylor Rush nailed another three and Logan Jones recorded a steal and a fastbreak layup to push the lead to 40-25. The Valor called a timeout with 3:37 left in the second quarter, but the Lady Cats poured on four more points, to close out the scoring in the first half. The Lady Cats tool a 44-25 lead into the intermission.

The Valor scored first in the third quarter, putting up two layups before the Lady Cats would answer with a Blythe Benefield basket. Susie Moran made a layup to push the score to 48-29, while the Valor continued to chip away. With 4:26 left in the frame, Evangel had cut the gap down to single digits. Two Lady Cat treys from Taylor Rush and Logan Jones got the team back on track. Another three from Taylor Rush and a three from Avery Arnold bumped the Lady Cat lead to 61-46 to end the quarter

The Valor came out gunning to open the final stanza and scored the first six points of the quarter. Blythe Benefield drained a jumper to stop the run and maintain the double-digit lead. After a Valor bucket, Logan Jones hit one from deep to push the lead to 66-54. Abbey Linville dished to Keara Mattingley for a layup to extend the lead to 14, but the Valor responded with six unanswered points, reducing the Lady Cat lead to 68-61 with 3:25 remaining. With time winding down, Blythe Benefield connected on a pair of baskets and a pair of free throws, and a Taylor Rush three pushed the Lady Cat lead to 75-62. Susie Moran would score five straight points to close out the scoring and secure the 80-64 win.

Four Lady Cats logged double figure scoring with Logan Jones leading the way with Logan Jones 21, Taylor Rush followed with 18, Blythe Benefield added 15, and Susie Moran tacked on 13. Blythe Benefield pulled down 10 rebounds to post a double-double, and Susie Moran followed with 9 rebounds. Abbey Linville, Blythe Benefield, and Susie Moran each dished out 5 assists.

The Lady Cats will travel to Orange City, Iowa to compete in the Northwestern Classic weekend tournament beginning Friday, November 8.