KANSAS CITY, Mo. (SCWarriors.com) – The Lady Warriors secured their third straight KCAC win to start the conference season against the Avila University Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Both teams had great stretches in the game, but the Warriors came out with a 73-65 victory. Sterling trailed by nine points near the end of the first quarter and fought back to take a one-point halftime lead at 35-34. The Eagles came out to a hot second half start and opened up an 8 point lead once again. A couple of key three point baskets by Kali Briar, mixed in with a couple of jumpers by Bailey Young erased the deficit and gave the Warriors a lead in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Korynn Clason secured the win by scoring 8 points in the fourth quarter to close things out. Sterling was playing its best down the stretch, opening up a 10 point lead late in the fourth after their early deficit in the second half.
Briar led all scorers with 17, and added 5 assists to go along with 4 rebounds and a block, being involved in all aspects of the Warrior’s offense. Clason and Alissa Heskamp each finished with 14 points apiece, as Clason complimented Briar’s five assists with five of her own. Also finishing in double figures off the bench, was Kayla Morris with 10 points. McKenna Vogl, once again, just missed a double-double with 11 rebounds and 9 points. Six of her rebounds were offensive giving Sterling extra opportunities when they needed them. It was not an exceptional shooting night for Sterling shooting just 44% from the field, but they got it done in other areas. They owned the rebounding stats, outrebounding the Eagles 41-22. Their second chance points were a big difference in the ballgame as well.
Sterling has started the season at 7-1, and are 3-0 in KCAC competition. Next up for the Lady Warriors is an exhibition game Saturday, November 30th, against the Washburn Ichabods.
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