ONU’S COMEBACK EFFORTS FALL SHORT AGAINST IU EAST

BOURBONNAIS, IL. - In a hard-fought battle at McHie Arena, Olivet Nazarene University's women's basketball team faced a tough loss against Indiana University East on Wednesday, with a final score of 74-80.

The game got off to a rocky start for the Tigers, as IU East embarked on a 9-point run in the opening minutes. However, the tenacity of ONU shone through as they responded with a 9-point run of their own, swiftly catching up to their opponents. Senior guard Jaimie Finn and junior guard Khendel Rolison delivered impressive performances, keeping the Tigers within striking distance. The pivotal moment came when junior guard Grace Schutt drained a three-pointer, granting ONU their first lead of the game. But IU East didn't back down, responding swiftly with a three-pointer and a layup to regain control just before halftime.

After the break, ONU continued to press forward with determination. Sophomore forward Brooklyn Marshall answered an IU East layup with a layup of her own, keeping the Tigers just four points behind their opponents. The team excelled in capitalizing on opportunities in the paint, relentlessly chipping away at the score deficit.

ONU remained resilient heading into the fourth quarter, making critical points from layups and free throws. However, IU East capitalized on multiple points in the paint, ultimately securing the game beyond the Tigers' reach.

The statistics showed a formidable performance by IU East, shooting at 52.3% from the field, compared to ONU's 34.7%. In three-point shooting, IU East held a slight edge with a 33.3% success rate, while ONU posted 32.4%. Furthermore, IU East excelled in free throws, with an impressive 87.5% free throw percentage compared to ONU's 57.9%. Rolison led the team with 18 points, showcasing remarkable resilience and effort.

What's Next?
ONU remains determined and eager to bounce back from this tough loss. The Tigers will hit the road to face off against Grace College ON Nov. 10th. Tip-off set for 5:00 p.m. CST at Manahan Orthopedic Capital Center.

--ONU—

*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu