KANSAS CITY, MO. —  

OKWU women's basketball came up just short in a hard-fought contest against Avila University on Wednesday night, falling 70-65 in Kansas City. 

The Lady Eagles battled back from an early deficit after trailing 22-13 in the first quarter, cutting the gap to just two points late in the fourth. Despite outscoring Avila 23-19 in the second quarter and showing resilience throughout, OKWU couldn't overcome Avila's strong finish. 

Gracie Alexander led Oklahoma Wesleyan with 21 points, including three three-pointers, and added 3 steals. Sophia Regalado provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, while Ashlyn Baker contributed 9 points and 6 rebounds. The team shot 43.1% from the field and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line, but Avila countered with 50% shooting and 38 points in the paint. 

The Lady Eagles will look to bounce back as they continue KCAC play, aiming to turn their competitive performances into wins. In their next match-up, the Lady Eagles will host Sterling College on December 6th, at 1:00 PM. Go Eagles!