WRIGHT’S CAREER HIGH 38 HELPS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TO CLOSE WIN AT YORK

YORK, Neb. – In the second-to-last game of the regular season, Avila women's basketball needed a big win on Wednesday. With the help of a career-high 38 points from Marlie Wright and a clutch shot from Kathleen Stanley late, the Eagles did just that, defeating the Panthers, 76-69.

Avila dominated the first half, starting with a five-point lead after the first quarter.

Opening the second, Avila began on an 11-0 run to stretch its lead to 16. The Eagles shot lights-out in the second quarter, putting up 24 total points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor – including 6-of-6 from Marlie Wright.

At the half, Avila held a 39-25 lead. Wright nearly outscored the Panthers on her own as the Eagles third-year star finished the half scoring 23 points.

The home Panthers came out of the locker room not wanting to lose on their senior night. York did not allow Avila to go on another big run to pull away. Both teams scored 22 points in the first 10 minutes out of the locker room.

Midway through the second, Avila's lead stretched to a game-high 19, but York came fighting back. The Panthers outscored the Eagles by five in the final five minutes of the third quarter and would make quite the comeback attempt in the fourth.

Much like Avila in the second quarter, York began the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to cut Avila's deficit to three with just over six-and-a-half minutes remaining.

Sixty seconds later, the Panthers took their first – and only – lead of the night on a three-pointer. The Eagle hero of the night, Wright, took the lead right back on a layup on the other end.

Midway through the fourth, Avila held a 64-63 lead.

With 42 seconds to go, tied at 69 and coming out of a timeout, senior Kathleen Stanley hit a huge three-pointer to go up three.

Strong Avila defense would force York into a missed three-pointer as Talia Dyson pulled down the rebound and was fouled.

Another foul put Madilyn Melton at the line, where she made it a two-possession game. The Panthers didn't hit another shot the rest of the game and Avila went back to Kansas City with a 76-69 victory.

Wright's 38 points are the most by an Eagle since Ainsley Tolson put up 37 versus Sterling in December 2021. 

Avila will wrap up its regular season at Tabor on Saturday. Tipoff from Hillsboro is slated for 2 PM.

 (photo credit: Ali Nassir)