TIGERS HIT CENTURY MARK IN WIN OVER IU-NORTHWEST ON SATURDAY

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball conclude their home-stand welcoming the RedHawks of IU-Northwest to McHie Arena on Saturday afternoon.  The Tigers sweep the regular season series winning, 102-86. 

Kaitlyn Engle buried a three while Caroline Boehne and Kennedy Johnson both made free throws early in the first quarter giving the Tigers a 6-0 lead.  After the RedHawks came back and knotted up the game, Khendel Rolison hit a three and Karina Smits put in a layup as the Tigers went back up, 13-7.  The lead ballooned to 10 as back-to-back layups by Smits made the score, 17-7. The Tigers led 26-14 at the end of the first quarter. 

The Tigers came out of the break with a pair of threes from Smits as the Tigers found themselves up, 34-18.  Then, a three by Avery Curry and a layup by Boehne made the score, 39-20.  ONU kept pouring in buckets as they grew their lead to 45-20, after Zanna Myers, Boehne, and Smits all made field goals.  With four minutes left, Rolison and Curry both knocked down three-balls as the Tigers extended their lead to 58-32.  The Tigers led at the half 58-34, but the story of the half was that the Tigers caused 21 RedHawk turnovers.  Smits led the Tigers with 19 at the half going 3-of-4 from behind the arc. 

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 58, IU-Northwest 34

Myers came out of the break for the Tigers and knocked down a three to make the score, 61-34. With under five left in the quarter, Myers, Anne Peters, Maggie Cora, and Smits led an 8-2 run and grew the ONU advantage to 72-47.  The RedHawks tried to claw back into the game as they closed the quarter on an 11-3 run but the Tigers held a 79-60 lead going into the final quarter.

Myers and Kennedy Johnson supplied the early offense for the Tigers, early in the fourth quarter, making the score 84-60.  After Myers nailed a three, IU-Northwest went on an 8-0 run until Boehne hit a layup.  ONU still were ahead 91-70.  At 95-72, Olivia Demosthenes contributed ONU's next five points making the score, 98-76.

The Tigers saw four of its starters mark double-digit totals as ONU defeated the RedHawks, 102-86. 

GAME VITALS

Final: Olivet Nazarene 102, IU-Northwest 86

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 11-8 (8-4 CCAC) | IU-Northwest: 13-6 (8-4 CCAC)

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

QUICK HITS

• Smits led the Tigers with 22 points off the bench. 
• Boehne, Myers, Rolison, and Johnson followed with 15, 14, 11, and 10 points, respectively. 
• Boehne led the Tigers with eight boards, while Jamie Finn followed with six rebounds. 
• The Tigers forced 33 RedHawk turnovers and scored 32 points off those turnovers. 
• ONU never trailed in the game and led by as much as 27 points. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers travel to Chicago as they take on the Lakers of Roosevelt University on Wednesday, January 19th.  Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Goodman Center.  Spectators must show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination card and show ID prior to entering the facility per Roosevelt University guidelines.  Please visit This link to learn more about Roosevelt's spectator policy. 

--ONU—

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