WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PICKS UP WIN NO. 2 AT MISSOURI VALLEY

MARSHALL, Mo. – With the help of 29 made free throws and three starters in double figures, Avila women's basketball racked up its second win of the season on Wednesday with a 64-57 victory at Missouri Valley.

Avila led from the opening tip and used strong defense to hold the Vikings to 35/22/62 shooting on the evening and keep the home team at bay.

The Eagles got off to a 16-11 lead after the first quarter and outscored the Vikings again in the second, 18-12, to take a 34-23 lead entering the halftime break.

In the first 20 minutes, Marlie Wright (13) and Madilyn Melton (10) each scored in double-figures as Avila shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half while the defense held Missouri Valley to under 30 percent shooting.

Missouri Valley would chip away at the lead in the final two quarters, but every time the hosts would creep back in, Avila would go on a run of its own to take back momentum.

Avila's seven-point margin of victory was helped by 29-of-39 shooting from the foul line plus help from its trio of returning starters: Wright finished with a team-high 19 points, while Melton ended up with 16 points and nine boards. The two were joined by Kathleen Stanley's 12 points and two made shots from behind the arc.

With 16 points, Melton is the lone Eagle to score in double figures in each of Avila's first four games this season.

Next up for Avila is the KCAC opener on Saturday versus Bethany. Tipoff from Mabee Fieldhouse is slated for 6 PM.