LATE MELTON LAYUP GIVES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL THRILLING WIN OVER OTTAWA

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A back-and-forth game for 40 minutes ended with Avila senior Madilyn Melton cutting down the lane for a game-winning layup with one second remaining to give Avila a 68-67 win over Ottawa at Mabee Fieldhouse on Wednesday evening.

The game between the two local KCAC rivals saw nine lead changes and seven ties throughout the game with neither squad leading by more than nine.

Both teams came out shooting in the first quarter, with a combined 17 made field goals and 12 assists en route to a 23-22 Avila lead after one.

Melton and Marlie Wright combined to shoot a perfect 7-7 for 15 points in the first quarter for Avila.

The second quarter was the polar opposite for the two teams, with just 19 combined points and a tied 32-32 game entering the halftime locker rooms.

Avila led by five midway through the third quarter, but Ottawa fought back to take a one-point lead with a jumper in the final seconds entering the fourth.

Ottawa led by five with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Facing a deficit, Avila clawed its way back.

Holding a one-point lead with the shot clocked turned off, Avila looked for a defensive stand to end the game. The Braves took a one-point lead of their own on a layup with just under six seconds remaining.

Remy Wolfe called a timeout to advance the ball and draw up a play for her squad.

Off a Wright inbound pass with 5.7 seconds remaining, Wright found Melton, who gave the ball back to Wright. Melton would cut and take a perfect pass from Wright for a left-handed layup off the glass to give Avila a 68-67 lead with one second remaining, forcing an Ottawa timeout.

With the game on the line, Kylee Comstock intercepted the ensuing Ottawa inbound pass to seal the one-point Avila win.

Marlie Wright finished with a game-high 26 points and seven assists, while Melton's game-winner ended her night with 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting.

The win snapped Avila's brief three-game losing streak and gave the team its seventh win of the young season – just one away from matching last season's total. 

Avila will travel to Salina on Saturday to take on Kansas Wesleyan at 1 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)