Wolfe, Eagles Earn First Win of 2022 Campaign

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – First victory of the 2022-23 campaign. First KCAC victory of the season. First career head coaching victory for Remy Wolfe. Avila women's basketball (1-4, 1-0 KCAC) achieved all of that and more with an impressive 69-58 victory over McPherson (3-2, 0-1 KCAC) inside Mabee Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.

After a couple of hard-fought efforts and close losses in non-con play, it was finally the Eagles' turn to shine in their second home game of the season. McPherson was in command early, leading by four after the first quarter and building up that margin to as many as seven before the Eagles seized control midway through the second quarter and never gave it back up. The Eagles shot an efficient 46% from the field (while holding McPherson under 32%), were more effective from the foul line (71% to 60%) and dominated the points off the bench (38-20) to ultimately win their first game of the season by a double-digit margin.

The visitors got out to a quick start, hoping to spoil the party in the conference opener for both sides. McPherson opened up a 7-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game before Daisy Washington scored seven straight points for the Eagles to help them tie it up 11-11. McPherson locked it down defensively in the first quarter, limiting Avila to just one point over the final four minutes, and Jheda Kennedy knocked down a three a minute into the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 19-12 lead, their largest of the game.

But that's where the Eagles completely flipped the script, beginning to lock it down on the defensive end which allowed the offense to begin to flourish. After Kennedy hit that three in the first minute of the quarter, the Eagles did not allow the Bulldogs to make another field goal until the final minute of the quarter (McPherson shot 17% from the field in the period), and Avila steadily gained control and ultimately held off a late surge to earn the win.

Back to back threes from Hannah Smith and Kaytee Frasher capped an initial Eagle surge, tying the game at 20 apiece halfway through the period, and once Kayla Navy hit a pair of shots and set up Cecelia Eddy for another bucket giving the Eagles a 26-21 lead, the Eagles were firmly in control. Avila flipped a four-point deficit going into the second quarter into a three-point lead going into halftime, and once the third quarter began the closest the Bulldogs could get was within five.

It looked like Avila might cruise to a win, but McPherson had other plans. The Eagles had been in control for much of the game, but the Bulldogs made a serious push, scoring the first seven points of the fourth quarter to get right back within 50-49. The Eagles stopped the bleeding when Navy set up Eddy for another bucket and then Navy made all three free throws following a technical foul, but the Bulldogs ripped that bandage right back off by scoring six straight to grab a 56-55 lead, their first since the first half.

Stunningly trailing again in a game they controlled, the Eagles needed some magic. Enter Kayla Navy. Very much a role player last season, Navy has shown more than a few flashes thus far in a bigger role this season, and she put together her best performance of her senior year to captain her team to a clutch win.

After Matisyn Moses made a single free throw to give McPherson the 56-55 lead with 3:05 left, Navy completely took over. She converted an and-one, a steal and score, hit a three, and nailed a couple of key layups all in the span of less than two minutes, turning a 56-55 deficit into a 67-58 lead almost singlehandedly. Frasher played a big part too, with an assist, a board and a pair of foul shots in the final minute – somehow, the Eagles held firm, outscoring the Bulldogs 14-2 over the final two minutes to earn the 69-58 win.

A fourth-quarter masterclass from Navy, Frasher and the Eagles helped lift Remy Wolfe to her first win as a collegiate head coach in her first attempt against a conference opponent, after she spent the last three seasons as Avila's top assistant. Navy was fabulous, leading all players with 22 points (15 coming in the fourth quarter), along with four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block. Smith scored 14 points, and Frasher scored nine with 10 boards.

Up next, KCAC competition continues for Avila women's basketball with their first road conference game of the 2022-23 campaign. The Eagles travel to Lindsborg, Kansas to face Bethany in a doubleheader; the women start things off at 5 PM with the men to follow at 7. As always, you can watch all the action live on the KCAC Sports Network.