LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mississippi University for Women made good on a season high 10 shots from three-point range to lead a 64-58 upset over Spalding University, the third-place team in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) entering the game. The Owls' (6-7, 2-4 SLIAC) – who came into the night in eighth place in the league standings – win over the Golden Eagles (5-8, 4-3 SLIAC) was also the second-straight SLIAC win for MUW.
 
While Louisville, Kentucky, may be famous as the hometown of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, it was The W guard Chris Evans delivering the knockout punch at Spalding's Columbia Gym with a career-high 21 points. Evans was not only 8-of-11 from the field, but a deft 6-for-9 from long range (tying the MUW single game record for three-point baskets made).
 
It was not just Evans' total that was impressive, but just as much his delivery. Time-and-time again the Golden Eagles made a run at the Owls and MUW Head Coach Dean Burrows always seemed to get an answer to SU from Evans. And none of the shots proved larger than with just over one-minute left in regulation - and the Golden Eagles within a single possession, 59-56 – when Evans canned a trey from the top of the key just before the shot clock expired to extend the Owls' advantage and help close out Spalding.
 
"Winning on the road in any conference at the collegiate level is hard," Burrows said. "To come out of the gate playing the way we were helps to settle everyone down. In that first half, Chris (Evans) carried us, which led to our talking at the half about not confusing shooting well with playing well and vice versa. Coming into the second half, we knew they were going to try and get downhill and our guys, weren't consistent in doing what we wanted on that end of the floor and they whooped us in the glass, which hasn't happened much this year.
 
"But again, all the credit to our guys for finding a way and staying together. A big star-like for us was having that positive assist-to-turnover ratio, which I believe tells folks everything they need to know about a program as far as the level of unselfishness. Dariun (Doss) was big for us down the stretch and showed the typical 'heart' that we've become accustomed to seeing."
 
Doss' night included eight points and a team-leading nine rebounds, seven on the defensive end.
 
Cam Smith joined Evans in double-figure scoring with 11 points, hitting 5-of-10 from the floor. Smith also pulled down five boards.
 
Sophomore Josh Dukes hit 3-of-4 shots on his way to booking eight points, as well. Andrew Shepherd and Brye Hopkins finished with six and five points, respectively. Tyson Smithey's four points capped the Owls' scoring.
 
Smithey grabbed five rebounds, also.
 
The W will try to extend its current win skein on Saturday (Jan. 13/3 p.m.) at Greenville University.