BIG FOURTH QUARTER NOT ENOUGH AS WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LOSES AT EVANGEL

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A 33-point fourth quarter did not provide enough of a comeback as Avila fell on the road to Evangel on Wednesday night, 82-62.

The Valor jumped out to a 23-point halftime lead thanks to a slow-shooting second quarter from the Eagles. Avila could only manage 2-of-8 shooting from the field in the second quarter as they entered halftime with a 38-15 deficit.

Trailing by 29 entering the fourth quarter, the Eagles used 28 combined fourth-quarter points from Kathleen Stanley and Brianne Kuhlman to outscore the Valor 33-24 in the final frame. The largest single-quarter offensive output from Avila this season was not enough as the Eagles fell to 0-2 in conference play early in the season.

Avila had three different double-figure scorers in the midweek contest: Stanley (18), Kuhlman (13) and Hannah Smith (13), while Madilyn Melton led the Eagles with five assists and six rebounds.

As a team Avila outshot Evangel from behind the arc – 45.8 percent to 33.3 percent – but the Valor had a big night in points off turnovers (28) and points in the paint (32) to secure the win.

Avila has its home opener against Sterling on Saturday afternoon at Mabee Fieldhouse at 1 PM.