INDIANAPOLIS - The newly-minted second-ranked Marian women's basketball team kept their impressive 18-game winning streak alive in the PE Center on Wednesday night, as the Knights defeated (RV) Spring Arbor 61-45 in a defensive masterclass. Marian, winners of 18 consecutive, are now 11-0 in the Crossroads League and 20-1 overall on the season.
The first quarter set the tempo for Marian's performance, as they took a 16-11 lead after 10 minutes of play over Spring Arbor. Abbey McNally played a pivotal role on both ends of the court, providing an early boost for Marian as she scored the team's first four points while grabbing three early rebounds and a blocked shot on the defensive end. Spring Arbor struggled with eight first-quarter turnovers, but managed to narrow the gap with a late offensive surge, ending the quarter on a 6-2 run. Marian shot just 38 percent in the first quarter, as they failed to take advantage off of the Cougars' giveaways.
The second quarter saw a back-and-forth battle, with Spring Arbor scoring the first six points to take their first lead. Despite trailing 17-16 on the scoreboard, Marian found an answer to reclaim their advantage in Allison Bosse, who helped Marian regain control on offense. The game would continue to teeter until a three-pointer from Sara Majorosova with 2:13 before halftime shifted the momentum in Marian's favor. Another three from Bosse at the buzzer established a 33-29 lead for the Knights at intermission.
Marian carried the momentum into the third quarter, maintaining a lead of two or more points throughout the period. Senior Ella Collier provided a spark as she got over her first half struggles from the field, contributing to the team's offensive success. Aliyah Evans and Collier closed the quarter with the final four points for either team, extending Marian's lead to 49-41. The Knights' defense showcased its elite level throughout the quarter, holding the Cougars to 0-5 from the floor in the final three minutes as the game switched to the fourth.
The fourth quarter saw Marian's defense continue its dominance, allowing just four points from Spring Arbor. Collier and McNally helped seal a double-digit lead in the first two minutes of the quarter, while the Knights' defense put the clamps down, denying any scoring from Spring Arbor for over three minutes after Alana Nelson's basket one minute in. Late scores from Tamia Perryman and Kinnidy Garrard solidified Marian's commanding 61-45 victory, as the Cougars failed to score over the game's final 3:39 of play.
Bosse led the Knights in scoring in the win with 18 points, while McNally headlined the box score with a commanding 16-point, 21-rebound double-double for Marian. McNally's 21-rebounds are the second most for her in a game this season. Collier would finish with 11 points in the game, adding two of Marian's seven blocked shots as she ends the contest with 1976 career points, 25 away from passing Lakan Hasser-Smith for the all-time Marian record.
Marian will aim to close their week out undefeated, as they host Taylor University on Saturday afternoon with tip scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
