SLOW FIRST HALF SINKS ONU AGAINST NO. 6 MARIAN

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team got out to a slow start and never recovered in a 110-69 loss to the current No. 6-ranked Marian Knights Wednesday night in McHie Arena.

After Marian (5-1) scored the game's first six points, Brooklyn Marshall got the Tigers on the board with a stellar post-move lay-in. But the Knights responded with another 10 unanswered points to put ONU in an early double-digit deficit, and before they knew it, the Tigers were down 22-4 with three minutes to play in the first quarter.

Bett O'Neal and Katie Draper strung together consecutive baskets when the former hit a three-pointer and the latter scored on a driving layup to get the Tigers to double-figures. O'Neal then opened the second quarter with a quick layup, but it would prove to be one of only two field goals ONU would connect on in the second quarter as the Knights lead ballooned from there.

The Tigers started piecing things together in the second half, even outscoring the No. 6-ranked Knights in the fourth quarter 28-24 thanks to an ONU 10-0 run midway through the period. Anne Peters ignited the spurt with a three-pointer before Hattie Hagedorn and Olivia Demosthenes converted back-to-back layups. O'Neal then capped the spurt with another three, but it was the closest the Tigers would get as Marian closed out the dominant win.

Despite the strong fourth quarter, ONU connected on just 24-of-70 attempts from the floor in the game. The Tigers also struggled from the free-throw line, converting on just 11-of-20 attempts from the charity stripe. The Knights shot over 55 percent from the floor and hit 11-of-24 (45.8 percent) from 3-point range.

O'Neal hit all three of her 3-point attempts to lead ONU with 13 points. Khendel Rolison was the only other Tiger in double-figures with 10. Olivia Dirkse came off the bench to score nine. Demosthenese finished with eight points, Peters netted six, and Preslee Michael added five.

The Tigers were also hurt on the boards, getting out-rebounded 64-25. Demosthenes and Draper shared the team lead with four rebounds apiece.

ONU returns to action next Tuesday to open CCAC play against Saint Xavier in McHie Arena.

--ONU—

*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu