Stephens Edges Avila 73-61 in Women's Hoops
Stephens College improved to 3-2 on the season with a home win over Avila, which fell to 1-3.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball
Stephens College women's basketball defeated Avila 73-61 at home on Thursday. The win moved Stephens to 3-2 on the season, while Avila dropped to 1-3.
Why it matters
The result gives Stephens a winning record early in the season and keeps Avila searching for its first consecutive wins. Stephens' shooting and rebounding edge in the second half helped it pull away from a close game.
Stephens shot 46.3% from the field and 37.5% from three-point range, compared with Avila's 36.5% and 17.6%. Simone Clay led Stephens with 17 points and Quimari Shelton grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
The players
Simone Clay
Stephens College guard who led her team with 17 points in the win over Avila.
Quimari Shelton
Stephens College player who grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in the victory.
The details
Stephens led 19-12 after the first quarter and 27-23 at halftime. The Griffins scored 27 points in the third quarter while holding Avila to 17, shooting 72.7% from the field in that frame, and entered the fourth quarter ahead 54-40.
Timeline
Thursday: Stephens College defeated Avila 73-61 at home (November 5, 2026).
Saturday: Stephens plays Viterbo at home at 1 p.m. at Silverthorne Arena.
Season Trajectory
Early-season results like Stephens' 3-2 start set the tone for conference positioning in NCAA Division III women's basketball. Avila's 1-3 start puts it in a hole that must be addressed through the rest of its nonconference slate.
Stephens' 3-2 record puts it in position to build momentum before conference play begins. Fans attending Saturday's home game against Viterbo can watch at Silverthorne Arena at 1 p.m.
The takeaway
Early wins matter for building rhythm, and Stephens' balanced shooting and rebounding in the second half show what it needs to keep winning. Readers following the program can track the Saturday matchup with Viterbo.
What happens next
Stephens College plays Viterbo at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Silverthorne Arena.
Further reading
Follow more local coverage in Columbia Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Columbia Missourian.
