Eagles Scuffle against Swedes

LINDSBORG, Kan. – Avila women's basketball (6-12, 5-7 KCAC) struggled to get its offense in gear on Saturday afternoon in Lindsborg, dropping a 69-47 decision to the Bethany Swedes (10-8, 8-4 KCAC) in the only regular season matchup between the two league rivals this year.

The Bethany offense wasn't exactly brilliant, shooting just under 40% from the field and 4-of-16 from beyond the arc. But Avila struggled the shoot the ball all game, finishing south of 30% from the field despite shooting 6-of-15 (40%) from beyond the arc. As they learned in their previous game against McPherson, good three-point shooting is usually a sign of success for the Eagles this season, but this game was one of the rare examples to the contrary.

Part of the reason that held true Saturday is that even though Avila shot better from range than Bethany did, the Swedes were much more efficient with the ball, and won the rebounding, assists and turnover battles comfortably. Every Swede that played meaningful minutes in the game scored, while Avila was left looking for options outside of Hannah Pinkston, who scored a game high 19 points to keep Avila in the game.

The game was dead even early, with both sides trading blows for the first five minutes: the score was deadlocked at 10 apiece with five minutes expired, but the Eagles made only one field goal over the last half of the first quarter, a harbinger of things to come. Avila was held to single digits in each of the middle two quarters and though the Eagles flipped the script somewhat and outscored the Swedes by six in the fourth quarter, the damage had already been done: Bethany prevailed 69-47 in a critical midseason contest.

R'Manie Pulling led the balanced Swedes with 12 points off the bench. Lauren Gleason scored six points with 10 rebounds while Jaden Newfarmer scored ten with nine boards. Pinkston led all players with 19 points including three made threes; both Marlie Wright and Anastasia Wright recorded a team high five rebounds.

Up next, Avila women's basketball returns home to Mabee Fieldhouse for a pair of home games against local rivals this week. First, the Eagles welcome Ottawa to Kansas City on Wednesday, January 24 for a rare tripleheader: a men's varsity reserve contest kicks off the action at 2:45 PM, followed by women's varsity at 6 PM and men's varsity at 8 PM. You can watch all the action live and for free on the Avila Sports Network.