TIGERS UNLEASH THREE-POINT BLITZ AGAINST HOLY CROSS

BOURBONNAIS, IL. – Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team secured a resounding victory at home against Holy Cross College on Wednesday, clinching a final score of 113-71. 

The first quarter began with a back-and-forth dance, Khendel Rolison and Olivia Dirkse igniting the scoreboard with layups before the Saints rallied with eight unanswered points. But the ONU squad was not shaken. Jamie Finn's three-pointer and Bett O'Neal's layup knotted the score at 14. ONU closed the quarter strong, stringing together six consecutive points to grab a 22-20 lead.

The second quarter opened with a tense free throw exchange, but ONU quickly regained control. Dirkse and Finn drained back-to-back three-pointers, seizing control and sparking a 12-point run that put ONU firmly in the driver's seat. Though the Saints managed a late three to keep things interesting at 48-39 heading into the break. 

The Saints came out firing in the third, opening with a three-pointer that cut the deficit to six. Undeterred, ONU responded with layups from Rolison and Olivia Demosthenes, followed by a Preslee Michael three-pointer, pushing the lead back to 13. Dirkse then rained down another three, extending the Tiger advantage to a commanding 19 points. Despite some late free throws and a Saints layup, ONU maintained their dominance, entering the final quarter with a 75-58 lead.

The fourth quarter was a three-point bonanza for the Tigers. They opened with a flurry, Dirkse nailing two from beyond the arc as part of a 16-2 run that extended their lead to a commanding 28 points. The ONU sharpshooters were unstoppable, draining six consecutive three-pointers in the closing minutes – two by Dirkse, and one each by Grace Schutt, Madison Smith, O'Neal, and Rolison. The Saints managed a final layup, but it was too little, too late, as the Tigers roared to a resounding 113-71 victory.

What's Next

Looking ahead, the Tigers are poised for their next challenge. They return to McHie Arena on Jan. 17th to face the Crimson Wave of Calumet College St. Joseph. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. CST. 

--ONU—

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