LATE LEAD SLIPS AWAY, WOMEN’S BASKETBALL LOSES AT PARK

PARKVILLE, Mo. – Avila women's basketball lost a tight, 78-76 game against Park on Saturday afternoon on the second day of the Remy Williams Memorial Invitational despite 33 points from Marlie Wright.

The Eagles held a 73-71 lead with under two minutes to play before Park hit seven free throws down the stretch to take the game in the final seconds.

Avila held a huge 11-point lead after the first quarter thanks to 55 percent shooting from the floor and a trio of three-pointers.

A Kathleen Stanley three in the opening seconds of the second quarter stretched Avila's lead to 14, its largest of the afternoon.

Park would slowly cut into the Avila lead from there with Avila holding a 48-39 lead at halftime.

The Pirates outscored the Eagles by six in the third quarter and held Avila to 28 percent shooting to steal momentum.

Park's free throw shooting down the stretch and holding Avila to 0-6 shooting from behind the arc in the second half helped the Pirates to the victory.

Avila had 26 turnovers in the contest and Park turned those into 21 points on the offensive end.

Despite the loss, Marlie Wright scored a career-high 33 points, including 15-of-16 from the foul line. Stanley's four three-pointers helped her pick up 14 points while Kylee Comstock succeeded down low, pulling down 10 total rebounds. 

Avila has a quick turnaround to get the taste of defeat out of its mouth with the Eagles taking on Kansas Christian on Tuesday at 5:30 from Mabee Fieldhouse.

 (photo credit: Park University)