The Tigers Use 25 Three-Pointers to defeat the Saints

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Juniors Karina Smits (JR/Pewaukee, Wis.) and Zanna Myers (JR/Monticello, Ill.) combined to score 47 points on 15-of-26 from behind the arc as the Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team defeated the Holy Cross College (Ind.) Saints, 113-82, inside McHie Arena on Wednesday.

The Tigers had the three-ball working early as Myers and Smits combined for the five of the first six threes as the Tigers jumped out to 20-7 lead. ONU continued to hit its stride behind the arc as junior Avery Curry (JR/Chicago, Ill. ) and Myers knocked down threes making the score 26-10. Smits added another three as the Tigers took a 29-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Tigers made nine three-pointers, including Myers hitting 4-of-4.

ONU carried the momentum from the first quarter into the second and took a 36-20 lead after senior Ashley Ford (SR/Illiopolis, Ill.), sophomore Maggie Cora (SO/Lizton, Ind.), and Myers all made field goals. After the Saints scored five straight points, Myers made her sixth straight three-pointer making the score 40-27. After a Saint jumper, the Tigers saw back-to-back threes from Smits and Curry and grew the lead to 46-29.

In the final two minutes of the quarter, the Tigers still caught fire from three as Smits knocked down consecutive threes moving the score to 54-35. The Tigers marked seven of the last nine points as they took a 61-37 lead going into the half. Both Myers and Smits led the Tigers with 18 points.

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 61, Holy Cross (Ind.) 37

After the Saints hit a three to start the third quarter, the Tigers countered with 12 straight points and grew their lead to 73-40. During that run, Myers marked her seventh straight three and sophomore Kaitlyn Engle (SO/Wapakoneta, Ohio) tallied a three too. The Saints only were held to five made field goals in the quarter as the Tigers took a 91-58 lead going into the final quarter.

The Tigers kept their foot on the gas at the beginning of the fourth quarter connecting on 9 of the first 13 points making the score 98-62. At 100-62, the Saints tally seven of the next nine points until junior Caroline Boehne (JR/Hoffman, Ill.) immediately gave the momentum back to the Tigers, converting an and-one opportunity making the score 105-69.

The Tigers saw great three-point shooting and good defense causing 33 Saint turnovers as they won their fifth straight game, 113-82.

Game Vitals:

Final: Olivet Nazarene 113 | Holy Cross (Ind.) 83

Records: Olivet Nazarene 6-1 (3-0 CCAC) | Holy Cross (Ind.) 4-6 (0-2 CCAC)

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

Quick Hits:

• Myers made 8-of-11 from behind the arc to lead the Tigers with 24 points.
• Smits made 7-of15 from behind the arc and followed close behind with 23 points.
• Junior guard Kennedy Johnson (JR/Romulus, Mich.) assisted on a season-high 12 field goals.
• Kaitlyn Engle and Cora contributed 15 and 12 points, respectively.
• Cora and Johnson led the Tigers with eight rebounds.
• The Tigers outrebounded the Saints, offensively, 29-10 and out-assisted them 32-13.

What's Next?

The Tigers (6-1, 3-0 CCAC) travel to Palos Heights, Ill. To take on the Trolls of Trinity Christian College on Saturday, January 16. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu