JOHNSON'S SEASON-HIGH LEADS TIGERS TO VICTORY IN FINAL REGULAR SEASON HOME GAME

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene women's basketball played to a 94-76 victory Wednesday night over Governors State in their final regular-season game at McHie Arena. Kennedy Johnson poured in a game-high 24 points along with three steals, and four rebounds.

Governors State stormed out to an early lead over ONU in the first period of play. The Jaguars shot an efficient 55.6 percent from the floor and got to the charity stripe nine times leading to a six-point advantage after 10 minutes played. Despite taking five more shots, the Tigers could not find the bottom of the net going 3-11 from beyond the arc. Maggie Cora and Karina Smits kept the visitors within touching distance each tallying five points in the quarter.

Olivet turned it on in the second quart to take their first lead of the game. ONU had their best point differential for a quarter with a game-high 28 points and holding GSU to a game-low 14. Alayha Allen's layup with 6:47 left in the half gave the Tigers their first lead of the contest at 28-27, a lead they would not relinquish for the rest of the night. The home team carried an eight-point lead at the mid-way point.

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 49, Governors State 41

The Purple and Gold guards began to find their way to the basket out of the locker room. Olivia Demosthenes and Johnson each scored eight points in the third quarter.  Smits added her third three-point bucket of the game at the 1:30-mark followed by a Demosthenes three with under a minute in the period to bring the score to 72-58 heading into the fourth.

Johnson and Caroline Boehne closed out the game combining for 13 points in the final 10 minutes. Boehne's three boards attributed to the Tigers holding the rebounding advantage in each period of the game. ONU was backed by consistent scoring shooting 52.9% from the floor with an additional two three-point baskets. Olivet ended the game on a 10-4 run to claim the win.

Game Vitals

Final: Olivet Nazarene 94, Governors State 76

Records: Olivet Nazarene 19-9 (CCAC 16-5) | Trinity Christian 9-19 (CCAC 8-13)

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

Quick Hits

• Kennedy Johnson's 24 point total is a season-high for the point guard.
• Karina Smits has extended her streak of scoring in double-digits to 17 consecutive games.
• Caroline Boehne grabbed 15 rebounds for the third time this campaign pushing her average just shy of averaging a double-double for the year.
• ONU held the 53-38 advantage on the boards with Kaitlyn Clark leading the team with 8 off the bench.
• Olivet's bench outscored Governors' 34-14 on the night.

The Tigers will play their final regular game as they visit Saint Xavier on Saturday, Feb. 19. Tip-off at the Shannon Center is slated for 1 p.m. CST. Please visit onutigers.com for the most updated links to follow all the action.

--ONU—

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, pkaindl@olivet.edu