KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A 21-point third-quarter deficit was more than the Kansas Wesleyan women's team could overcome in a 67-60 Kansas Conference game Monday night against Avila.
The Coyotes enter the holiday break with a 10-4 overall record, 6-3 in the KCAC.
Avila (10-2, 8-2 conference) used a 22-4 run that bridged the second and third quarters in building a 48-27 lead early in third period. KWU, though, rallied and trailed 53-43 entering the fourth quarter but Avila extended the lead to 62-49 with just under six minutes remaining.
The Coyotes refused to go quietly and embarked on a last-ditch surge. Amanda Hill (SR/Rossville, Kan.)'s 3-pointer capped a 9-2 burst and pulled KWU within 64-58 with 1:12 remaining. Ainsley Tolson's basket just before the shot clock expired gave the Eagles a 66-58 lead with 49 seconds left.
The comeback stalled with a turnover and two missed shots on the next two possessions. Avila added a free throw with nine seconds left and Catherine Bowman (FR/Bucklin, Kan.) made two free throws with two seconds remaining for KWU to account for the game's final points.
The Coyotes shot 40.7 percent for the game (22 of 54), including 5 of 16 from beyond the 3-point arc but were 12 of 20 at the free throw line. Avila shot 35.4 percent (23 of 65), was 8 of 26 from deep and 13 of 16 at the foul line.
The culprit for KWU was turnovers – 22 that led to 27 Avila points. The Coyotes had 13 turnovers in the first half. Avila finished with 16 turnovers but resulted in just eight Wesleyan points.
The Coyotes outrebounded Avila 39-37 but the Eagles had 15 offensive rebounds – 11 the first half.
Hill paced KWU with 13 points – nine in the second half. Gabby Mureeba (JR/Allen, Texas) scored 12 and Kelcey Hinz (SR/Whitewater, Kan.) had a double-double with 10 points on 5 of 7 shooting and 12 rebounds to go along with three blocks. LaMyah Ricks (SO/Shawnee Mission, Kan.) also scored 10 points.
Tolson led Avila with 19 points and Matti Morgan had 14 – all in the first half. Morgan, the team's leading scorer, is a nursing student and didn't play in the second half as she had to report for her shift at a local hospital. Tatiana McCree added 11 points and 11 rebounds.
The Coyotes play an exhibition game on Dec. 28 at Northern Colorado before facing Missouri Valley at 4 p.m. New Year's Eve in a non-conference game in Marshall, Mo. They resume conference play against arch rival Bethany at 6 p.m. Jan. 5 inside Mabee Arena.