Bethany Rexroth tied her career high with 24 points, but the balanced attack by the Avila Eagles handed MNU a 72-59 loss to open the conference season. The Eagles had 6 players score at least 8 points, including 4 in double figures. Avila started the game with an 18-4 run which put the Pioneers in a hole from which they could not recover. The lead got as high as 17 points in the first half and MNU could not get back in the game. The Eagles extended the lead to 21 before an 18-5 Pioneer run closed the gap to 8 with 2 minutes left, but Avila held the lead and took the game.
Rexroth grabbed 9 rebounds and blocked 3 shots to go along with her 24 points.
Kristin Malone had 13 points and 4 assists. And
Kristie Tiegreen 8 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
MNU drops to 4-5 (0-1 HAAC). The next game is Tuesday the 8th at home vs. Benedictine (3-5, 0-1) at 5:30.
