Knights Down (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene 71-63 in Marian Classic

INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian women's basketball team continued their unbeaten start to the 2024-25 campaign on Friday night, taking down (RV) MidAmerica Nazarene 71-63 in the opening game of their home Marian Classic. The Knights victory was their third of the young season.

The Knights got off to a strong start from the floor making their first three shots of the night to gain a 6-2 edge, but fell behind 10-8 in the third minute of the quarter as MidAmerica Nazarene found an offensive rhythm. The lead changed hands twice more in the opening quarter, with Kenna Kirby and Abbey McNally pacing the team with six points each in the opening quarter. Olivia Faust knotted the score at 17-17 with 61 seconds to play in the first, but Marian would enter the second down a pair as Pioneers two foul shots in the final minute.

The second quarter carried a more defensive focus from both teams, as Abbey McNally created stops with blocks while Madisyn Bailey stepped in for a steal, setting up the offense with three point makes from Zoe Wheeler and Faust. Marian led 27-24 with 4:57 to play in the opening half, but were unable to keep an offensive identity as the Pioneers overtook the lead on multiple occasions in the quarter. Kiley McNally got a steal and fastbreak layup in the final minute to give Marian a 31-29 lead, but with eight seconds to play Kameron Green knocked in a mid-range shot to tie the score for MidAmerica entering the half.

Both teams found their offensive force again as the second half began, with the two sides combining for 43 points in the third quarter. Taylor Double helped Marian match the early MidAmerica Nazarene flow, as the score rocked between a two-point lead for either side over the first five minutes. Two made free throws by Emily Grim gave the Knights a 43-42 lead near the five minute mark, while an inside score from the freshman and pair of free throws by Wheeler pushed the edge to five. Double and Kiley McNally carried the offense through the final two minutes of the quarter, and pushed the Knights in front 54-51 by the end of the third.

MidAmerica Nazarene responded to Marian's late surge with an early spark in the fourth quarter, going on a 6-2 run to take a 57-56 lead. Olivia Faust halted the run with a pair of foul shots, and after reclaiming the lead each of the McNally sisters scored to increase the lead to five. Double's third three-point make of the game gave Marian a 65-57 lead and forced a Pioneer timeout, while after the break the lead reached double digits for the first time as Kiley McNally and Kirby scored in transition off a pair of steals.

The quick scores out of the stoppage pushed the Knights on top 69-57, essentially sealing the game as Marian held MidAmerica scoreless for nearly seven consecutive minutes in the final quarter, leading to the team's 71-63 victory.

Marian forced 19 turnovers in the win, and recorded 15 steals as they earned their third win of the season. Both McNally sister had a team-high 13 points, with Abbey posting a team-high six rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. Kiley led the Knights with five steals, while Abbey had four. Kenna Kirby finished with 11 points, and Taylor Double scored nine.

Marian has a quick turnaround, returning to play in the final game of their classic tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. against St. Xavier.

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