OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University women's basketball team built a commanding lead through three quarters and held off a late Avila rally to secure an 81–74 KCAC victory Wednesday night inside Wilson Field House.
First Quarter
The Braves weathered an early Avila free-throw surge before finding rhythm offensively.
McKinley Kruger scored inside and knocked down a three, while
Molly Martin added a pair of triples off the bench as Ottawa closed the quarter on a run to take a 23–17 lead.
Second Quarter
Ottawa stretched the margin with ball movement and perimeter shooting.
Dominique Schutte caught fire, scoring in transition and from deep as the Braves forced turnovers and turned them into points. Ottawa outscored Avila 22–9 in the frame to take a 45–26 advantage into halftime.
Third Quarter
The Braves continued to control the pace after the break.
Hailey Rademan hit back-to-back threes, and
Ashlynn Arnsman finished in the paint as Ottawa pushed the lead to as many as 26. Despite Avila attacking the rim late, Ottawa maintained a 67–47 cushion heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
Avila mounted a comeback behind Madilyn Melton and Marlie Wright, cutting the deficit to single digits in the final minute. Kruger calmly sealed the game at the free-throw line, and Ottawa closed out the 81–74 win.
By the Numbers
- Dominique Schutte led all scorers with 28 points, hitting 7-of-15 from three-point range
- McKinley Kruger added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists
- Hailey Rademan chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds
- Ottawa scored 46 bench points, compared to Avila's 21
- The Braves forced 18 Avila turnovers, converting them into 16 points
- Ottawa shot 44.4% from three (16-of-36)
- Avila was led by Madilyn Melton and Ava Hughes with 19 points apiece
Who is Next
Ottawa (14-9, 9-8) returns to the court on Saturday, February 7 in Wilson Field House against Friends University. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
