Eagles Falter in Fourth Quarter against Braves

OTTAWA, Kan. – After a fairly tight first three quarters, Avila women's basketball (2-10, 2-5 KCAC) couldn't generate enough offense when it mattered most, allowing Ottawa (8-5, 5-3 KCAC) to edge out a 53-38 victory in a defensive battle on Saturday afternoon in Ottawa.

In the Eagles' last game against Oklahoma Wesleyan just a few days prior, Avila went into the fourth quarter tied before outscoring OKWU by 11 over the final ten minutes to earn the win. The Eagles saved their best for last in that game; but on Saturday, things were different: Avila trailed by only eight going into the fourth quarter against the Braves, but the Eagles managed just two field goals and four points over the final 10 minutes of regulation, enabling Ottawa to walk away with a win.

Early on, however, the game looked as if it might be a shootout. Avila came out firing, with Hannah Smith and Emily Baldwin knocking down three-pointers in the first couple of minutes to give the visitors an early 6-2 edge. That would be Avila's largest lead of the game, however – Ottawa scored the next five to grab the lead, and the two teams went back and forth for the rest of the first half.

Avila was strong on the glass in the first half – especially in the first quarter, edging Ottawa 14-9 in that category – to make up for some cold shooting from the team overall over the first 20 minutes. Ottawa led by two after one and stretched it to 27-20 at the halftime break.

Both teams once again came out firing to start the second half: a three from Janiyah Hendricks on the first possession of the quarter was immediately canceled by one from Kaytee Frasher, and then a few minutes Nicole Brown's bucket was nullified by another Smith deep ball. Buckets from Baldwin and Daisy Washington helped Avila climb all the way back to within 34-32 with 3:16 left in the period – but the Eagles could not get closer. Ottawa scored eight of the final 10 points of the third quarter before the Eagle offense went silent in the third, allowing Ottawa to prevail 53-38.

Nicole Brown led all players with a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double along with three blocks, and Cierra Brown chipped in 12. Baldwin paced the Eagles with 12 points, though she needed 17 field goal attempts to get there, and Frasher scored seven with a game-high 13 rebounds.

Up next, Avila women's basketball returns home to Mabee Fieldhouse for their final KCAC contest of the calendar year coming up this Tuesday, December 13, against Saint Mary. The women will tip off at 6 PM with the men to follow at 8. Admission is free to all Avila fans and is priced at $8 for visiting fans. As always, you can watch the game live and for free on the Avila Sports Network with Joe Van Amburg on the call from Mabee Fieldhouse.