WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LOSES TIGHT GAME TO NO. 13 MNU

PARKVILLE, Mo. – In Day One of the Remy Williams Memorial Invitational, Avila women's basketball lost a tight game to No. 13 MidAmerica Nazarene on the campus of Park University.

After a blowout win on Tuesday, the Eagles held with their top-15 opponent on Friday afternoon for all 40 minutes. Tying the game up at three different points in the first quarter, Avila trailed by just two heading into the second.

The Patriots would not lead by more than five in the second quarter and the Eagles brought the game to within one with 3:24 remaining before halftime. A buzzer-beating layup by MNU gave the Patriots a small 28-25 lead entering the break.

Avila was led in the first half by six points from Kathleen Stanley and nine from Madilyn Melton.

A pair of Marlie Wright free throws late in the third quarter gave Avila a 38-37 lead before MNU went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter and enter the fourth leading by four. Nine third-quarter points from Melton brought her total to 18 through three quarters to keep Avila in the game.

MidAmerica Nazarene started the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run and eventually put the game away in the final quarter, outscoring Avila by six for the ultimate 10-point victory.

Melton finished her day with 20 points and six rebounds. Along with Melton, Avila's 90 percent free throw shooting kept the program in the game for all four quarters. But MNU sealed the game down low, outrebounding Avila 43-28 outscoring Avila by 16 in the paint. 

Avila will be back in action on Saturday for their second game of the Remy Williams Memorial Invitational, taking on the hosts, Park, at 4 PM.

 (photo credit: Park University)