MELTON GETS 1,000TH POINT IN BLOWOUT WIN OVER MCPHERSON

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Coming in one of the best all-around team performances in recent memory, Avila senior Madilyn Melton recorded her 1,000^th collegiate point and her 500^th rebound in a dominating 83-51 win over McPherson on Saturday afternoon.

Returning to Mabee Fieldhouse coming off a tough, one-point loss to No. 22 Evangel, Avila could not have gotten off to a better start on Saturday.

Avila began the game with 21 unanswered points in the first seven minutes. Five different Eagles scored before McPherson got on the scoreboard.

Avila dominated the opening quarter, forcing 10 McPherson turnovers and drawing nine Bulldog fouls. Avila had six assists on six made field goals in the first quarter, taking a 23-5 lead into the second.

Entering the contest needing just nine points and five rebounds to reach the 1,000/500 mark, Melton was well on her way after one, notching six points and four boards.

The Eagles dominated again in the second, holding McPherson to single-digits once again.

In the second, Melton hit a layup in the first minute of action to need just one point and one rebound to reach the milestone.

Two minutes later, she pulled down a defensive rebound for collegiate rebound No. 500.

Six minutes into the second quarter, Melton was fouled and stepped to the line needing to hit just one shot from the charity stripe for her place in Avila history.

As has been the case for her entire career, Melton made both free throws for points No. 1,000 and 1,001.

Honoring the moment, head coach Remy Wolfe called a timeout, giving the Mabee Fieldhouse crowd a chance to honor the senior from Louisburg, Kan.

Melton's historic day played a big part in an enormous win for the Eagles. Avila forced five more McPherson turnovers in the second quarter and held a 36-13 lead going into halftime.

A dominating first half paved the way for a dominating third quarter.

After starting the game on a 21-0 run, Avila opened the second half on an 18-0 run. The Eagle defense did not allow McPherson a made basket until the 3:22 mark of the third quarter. Eighteen unanswered points in the opening six-and-a-half minutes, playing some of the best all-around basketball in recent program memory.

Avila scored a game-high 29 points in the third quarter, shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and knocking down 14 free throws. The defense played another solid part, forcing seven Bulldog turnovers.

Midway through the third quarter, Avila had more steals than McPherson had total points.

After three, Avila held a 40-point, 65-25 lead.

Getting experience from some of its younger players, Avila still put up 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter to finalize the 83-51 win.

Playing one of the best games of Wolfe's tenure, Avila's 30 made free throws are the most in more than three seasons. Additionally, the 54 rebounds mark the first time with 50 or more boards since 2024.

Avila had 14 steals in the game, its most since Jan. 18, 2025 at McPherson. The Eagles had four players with multiple steals in the contest.

In addition to Melton's historic day, Avila had multiple players put up season or career-best performances on Saturday.

Kylee Comstock recorded her first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The freshman also swatted away six Bulldog shots on the afternoon. Comstock's 15 points are a career-best and she has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games.

While usually a high-scorer, Marlie Wright had a solid all-around game, contributing eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals while only tallying one point.

Off the bench, freshman Ashlyn Kuhlman scored a career-high 18 points on four made three-pointers.

All nine Avila players scored and had a rebound in the game and the game marks the fourth time this season in which Avila has put up 80-plus points.

The Eagles will look to take this momentum into Wednesday's matchup with York at 5:30 PM from Mabee Fieldhouse.