BETHANY, Okla. — There are no more free ones from here on as Southern Nazarene played its final tune-up with a 69-65 win over Avila (Mo.) Thursday night.
The Crimson Storm (9-2) nearly shot 50 percent from the field as they went 25-for-51 from the floor and got a game-high 18 points from Logan Martin who also added five assists as well. Martin went 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and 7-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Abbey Marra recorded her eighth double-double and fourth straight as she posted 12 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Jamie Bottger and Audra Skimbo each added 11 points as Skimbo added six boards. Marsha Durr matched a season-high with nine points and chipped in with four rebounds and three assists.
The Crimson Storm also bounced back from a poor performance at the charity stripe to go 12-for-16 (75 percent) from the free-throw line.
SNU held Avila to just 35.8 percent shooting from the field and 6-for-19 from downtown. The Storm also forced 14 turnovers scoring 14 points in transition.
“We played a lot better defensively tonight,” said SNU head coach Lori Carter. “I was disappointed with the way we played on the defense end last night and I thought that was the biggest thing along with turnovers that hurt us. I have been pleased with the way we have been shooting the ball and have been consistent on that end. If we can put it all together we could be pretty tough.”
SNU was off and running from the opening tip as it climbed out to a 16-6 lead. Avila answered with a 19-9 run to tie the game at 27 with 5:32 left before Marra hit a jumper to spark a 14-5 run to close out the half with a 41-32 lead.
After the Eagles hit the first bucket of the second half to make it a seven point game, Bottger sank a 3-pointer to start a 16-8 run as the Crimson Storm took its biggest lead of the game at 57-42 with 12:59 left to play.
SNU led 65-54 with 7:35 left before the Eagles went on a late run and cut it to 67-65 with a trey by Torie Murillo. The Crimson Storm though got two free throws from Skimbo to seal the game and head into the new year and on to conference play.
The Crimson Storm now host Oklahoma Christian, Saturday, at 3 p.m.
