INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's basketball team cruised to a victory in their first game of the NAIA National Tournament First Round, as the Knights claimed their 29th consecutive win as they defeated Florida National 95-67. Marian is now 31-1 overall on the season as they head to the NAIA Tournament Second Round.
The Knights started strong Friday night with four points in the first minute of the game, building a 9-5 lead in the first four minutes of the game. Trips to the free throw line aided the Knights in the first quarter, and a jumper from Kinnidy Garrard sparked a 9-0 run to push Marian on top 14-5. The Conquistadors would mount a small effort to comeback as the run ended and Marian's lead was cut to four, but three quick scores from Aliyah Evans gave the Knights a new spark in the final two minutes of the quarter. Evans' quick scoring gave Marian a 23-15 lead as the opening period experience.
Evans quickly gave Marian a double digit lead on their first possession of the second quarter, with baskets from Abbey McNally and Garrard boosting the Knights lead to 14 in a 2:25 stretch. The 29-15 lead would get sliced in half over the next 1:30 of game play as the Conquistadors mounted a rally to make it a seven-point game before a Tamia Perryman jumper quieted the storm. Allison Bosse pushed Marian back into a double figure lead, keeping her team in front by 10 or more for all but one possession in the final three minutes of the quarter. A late spark between the seniors Bosse and Garrard pushed the edge back to 15, with the Knights closing the half on top 47-32.
In the third quarter Ella Collier heated up and helped Marian put the game out of reach, as the senior scored 14 points alone in the third quarter, knocking down a pair of three point shots in the first three minutes to hold the lead at 18. Florida National would charge back to make it a 10 point game with 6:06 to play in the quarter, but after a timeout Marian regrouped and found another gear, scoring at the foul line and with Colliers' perimeter game, as a 7-0 run by the senior pushed the lead to 20. Bosse, Tamia Perryman, and Taylor Double pushed the lead beyond 20 points, with a fastbreak layup from Perryman to end the quarter pushing the advantage to 24.
Marian led 76-52 entering the final quarter, and put their final stamp on the game in the first three minutes as a 6-0 run captured a 30-point lead. The Knights quickly started to rotate the bench into the game over the final seven minutes, as contributions from Olivia Faust, Kiley McNally, and Josie Trabel pushing the team-total beyond 90 points. With the bench controlling the final few minutes, the Knights ended their game on a high note winning 95-67.
Collier finished the game with a team-high 19 points, while Bosse and Garrard each scored 14. Garrard led the team in rebounding as she secured a double-double with her 11 boards in the win. Perryman had 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench, and Evans scored 14. Marian posted 29 total assists in the win over Florida National, while holding their opponent to 35 percent from the field.
Marian will take on Stephens College in the NAIA Tournament Second Round on Saturday night. Tip will come at 6:00 p.m.
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