NORTH NEWTON, Kan.—The Bethel College women's basketball team battled through a hard-fought contest against Avila University, coming out on top with a thrilling 79-78 overtime victory on Saturday afternoon at Thresher Gym. The win improves the Threshers to 13-11 overall and 12-6 in KCAC play.

Kendall Locke delivered an incredible performance, leading all scorers with 28 points on 13-of-17 shooting, while also adding seven assists and four rebounds. Madyson McKinzie contributed 18 points, six rebounds, and three assists, while Natalie Richards chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds.

How It Happened

The Threshers and Eagles went back and forth in a tightly contested first half, with Bethel holding a 35-30 advantage at the break. Locke was nearly unstoppable in the first two quarters, finding her way to the basket while setting up teammates for key buckets.

Avila fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Bethel 22-20 to cut the lead to just three points heading into the final frame. The Eagles' Madilyn Melton was a force in the paint, finishing with 25 points and seven rebounds.

In the fourth quarter, Bethel saw its lead slip away as Avila tied the game late, forcing overtime at 69-69. However, the Threshers responded with poise, with Locke and Richards hitting clutch shots in the extra period. Bethel's defense held strong in the final moments, securing the one-point win.

Inside the Numbers

• Bethel shot 47.1% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range.
• The Threshers controlled the boards with a 36-35 rebounding advantage.
• Bethel forced 19 turnovers, leading to 11 points off takeaways.
• The Threshers held a 40-42 deficit in points in the paint but made up for it with key perimeter shooting.

Up Next

Bethel will return to Thresher Gym on Wednesday, February 12th, to host Kansas Wesleyan University at 6:00 PM.