Second Half Surge Not Enough for Avila against KWU

SALINA, Kan. – Thanks to an excellent third quarter, Avila women's basketball flipped a halftime deficit into a fourth quarter lead, but Kansas Wesleyan (8-8, 6-4 KCAC) did enough in the final few minutes to fend off the Eagles (5-11, 4-6 KCAC) in a 62-57 victory for the Coyotes on Saturday afternoon in Salina.

On a frigid day across the Midwest, the action was hot early on Saturday. Both teams scored 15 points in a back-and-forth first quarter in which both teams had their moments to shine. Then the Coyotes erupted, making two-third of their field goal attempts for 25 points to take a 40-31 lead going into the halftime break.

In a game that started off as close as this one did, that lead felt like it could be insurmountable. But facing off against one of the preseason KCAC favorites, the Eagles never gave in. Instead, Avila fired back with their best period of the game, holding KWU to a paltry 1-of-17 shooting in the third quarter as the Eagles outscored the Coyotes by 13 points in the period to flip that 9-point halftime deficit into a 50-46 lead going into the fourth quarter.

From there, it was game on. Neither offense managed a field goal over the first four minutes before the two teams swapped baskets around the six-minute mark, resulting in a 53-52 lead for Kansas Wesleyan. Hannah Pinkston hit a free throw to tie the score, and then Madilyn Melton and Hannah Smith hit shots to put the visitors in front by four with 3:14 to play, forcing a Kansas Wesleyan timeout.

With that little left in the game, the lead once again looked insurmountable. But once again, it wasn't – only this time, it was the home team to stage a rally. Avila was held scoreless for the final three minutes of the game and KWU scored the game's final nine points, mostly from the foul line, to stage a last-minute rally and pull out a 62-57 win at home.

Jill Stephens led the Coyotes with 12 points, seven of which came from the foul line, and light scorer Adriana DiPrima added in a career-high 12 of her own. Marlie Wright led all players with 13 points for the Eagles; Smith scored 12; Pinkston had a strong all-around game, just missing her second straight double-double with 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals.

Up next, Avila women's basketball will return home to Mabee Fieldhouse this Wednesday, January 17, against McPherson. The women's game will tip off at 6 PM with the men to follow at 8; as always, you can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network with Joe Van Amburg on the call from Kansas City.