The Braves have an overall record of 12-8, a KCAC mark of 7-7, are on a two game winning streak, and have a record of 5-5 on the road this season. OU is 4-1 in its last five games with its loss coming on a last second shot against Bethel College on Jan. 17, 80-78, in Wilson Field House.
Ottawa enters Wednesday's game coming off an 81-73 victory over York University in the Freeman Center last Friday morning. The Braves shot 38.5 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent form behind the 3-pt line, and 77.8 percent from the free throw line.
McKinley Kruger led OU with 20 points.
This season, OU is averaging 75.3 points, 40.6 rebounds, and 15.3 assists per game. The Braves are shooting 40.4 percent from the floor, 31.3 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 72.5 percent from the free throw line.
The Braves are 5-5 on the road this season and have won two straight road games. Ottawa is scoring 69.2 points per game away from Wilson Field House and shooting 38.8 percent from the floor, 26.5 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 75 percent from the free throw line. Opponents are scoring 64.6 points per game and shooting 40.2 percent from the floor, 31.6 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 69.6 percent from the free throw line.
McKinley Kruger leads the Braves in scoring (12.3), assists (2.4), and steals (1.6) per game.
Aaliyah Brown is OU's leader in rebounds (7.0) per game and
Ashlynn Arnsman leads the team in blocks (0.6) per game.
Ottawa is outscoring opponents 540 to 387 from the 3-pt line. OU's 180 3-pt field goals ranks the Braves seventh in the OU record book. Last season Ottawa made 193 threes, which is ranked fifth in program history. The school record of 249 which was set in 2006-07.
The Braves 75.3 points per game average are the most by an OU women's basketball team since 1992-93. That season Ottawa averaged 77.1 points per game. The most by an OU women's basketball team was 81.5 in 1993-94.
Dominique Schutte is not only one of the best at shooting the three, but she is also excelling at the free throw line. She is 22-for-23 for .957 percent. In KCAC play, Schutte is 15-for-15 from the free throw line. She is ranked 42nd in the NAIA in 3-pt field goals made and attempted (48-for-144).
Ottawa's freshmen continue to play a major part in 2025-26. They are contributing 53.3 percent of OU's scoring and playing 13 or more minutes per game.
Kiana Hostetler: 4.5,
McKinley Kruger: 12.3,
Molly Martin: 7.3,
Clare Williams: 6.7,
Hailey Rademan: 5.3, and
Alison Daniels: 4.1.
Wednesday is the seventh game between Ottawa University and Evangel University. It will be the first time that either team has played against each other ranked in the NAIA Top 25. Evangel leads the series 5-1 and the Valor are on a three game winning streak against the Braves. The last time OU defeated EU was on Feb. 21, 2024 in Wilson Field House, 72-65. OU is 0-3 against the Valor in Springfield. The first ever meeting between the two teams happened on Nov. 26, 1988. Evangel won the game, 74-36 in Springfield, Mo.
Ottawa is ranked 31st in the NAIA in scoring (1,505), 42nd in points per game (75.3), 31st in field goals attempted per game (67), 16th in 3-pt field goals made per game (9.0), 14th in 3-pt field goals attempted per game (28.8), 40th in offensive rebounds per game (14.6), 42nd in opponent offensive rebounds per game (9.7), 49th in rebound margin per game (5.1), 50th in assists per game (15.3), 24th in turnovers per game (13.7), 23rd in opponent steals per game (6.9), and 35th in offensive efficiency (1.010).
Evangel University has an overall record of 16-1, a KCAC mark of 13-0, is on a 15 game winning streak, has a mark of 7-1 at home, and is ranked no. 22 in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches Top 25 Poll.
The Valor have won 15 straight with its last loss coming on Nov. 4 against (RV) Columbia College, 82-74. It is Evangel's only home loss this season.
Heaven Shockley leads the Valor in scoring (15.2), rebounding (6.4), and blocks (2.1) per game. Cassidy Hambelton is EU's leader in assists (5.8) and steals (3.2) per game.
Through 17 games this season, the Valor are averaging 94.1 points, 38.5 rebounds, and 20.2 assists per game. They are shooting 48.9 percent from the floor, 37.1 percent from behind the 3-pt line, and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.
The Valor are ranked 22nd in the NAIA in scoring (1,600), second in points per game (94.1), first in field goals made per game (36.7), seventh in field goals attempted per game (75.1), second in field goal percentage (.489), 27th in 3-pt field goals made per game (8.4), fifth in 3-pt field goal percentage (.371), 30th in opponent defensive rebounds per game (23.2), 39th in opponent total rebounds per game (34.2), fourth in assists per game (20.2), 25th in turnovers per game (13.8), 10th in opponent turnovers per game (24.9), 11th in steals per game (15.5), 45th in opponent steals per game (7.4), fifth in blocks per game (5.2), 15th in opponent blocks per game (1.5), first in offensive efficiency (1.125), and fourth in Net efficiency (0.347).
