PRECISION PLAYS LIFT TIGERS OVER GSU IN CCAC QUARTERFINAL

UNIVERSITY PARK, IL. – Olivet Nazarene University's women's basketball team survived a tough battle on the road Tuesday night, defeating Governors State University 83-74 to advance to the semifinals of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) tournament.

The game kicked off with an immediate offensive burst from the Jaguars, claiming an early five-point lead. Despite the initial surge from GSU, ONU stayed composed, gradually chipping away at the deficit. With standout performances from players like Bett O'Neal, Olivia Demosthenes, and Jamie Finn, the Tigers fought back to knot the score at 19 apiece. The quarter concluded with ONU holding a narrow 31-28 lead, setting the tone for a closely contested affair. 

The second quarter continued the trend of the first, with both teams trading baskets. GSU managed to pull ahead momentarily, but the Tigers responded with a crucial 6-2 run, capped off by a layup from Brooklyn Marshall. This surge put ONU back in the lead, and they held on to a narrow 46-44 advantage at halftime.

The third quarter saw GSU mount a determined challenge, pulling within one point midway through the period. But ONU weathered the storm, responding with a five-point run to regain control. Despite the Jaguars' late rally to cut the deficit to three points, Marshall sank two free throws at the buzzer to ensure that the Tigers maintained a crucial five-point cushion heading into the final period, leading 65-60. 

As the tension reached its peak in the fourth quarter, both teams traded blows in a frantic race to the finish line. Despite GSU's late push to narrow the deficit, ONU refused to relinquish their grip on the game. With stellar performances down the stretch, including a pivotal 9-2 run to quell any hopes of a Jaguars comeback, the Tigers emerged victorious with a final score of 83-74, securing their spot in the tournament semifinals.

What's Next

With their quarterfinal triumph in the rearview mirror, the Tigers now set their sights on the next challenge that lies ahead. ONU will travel to Notre Dame, IN. to face the Saints of Holy Cross College on Feb. 29th for the CCAC semi-finals. Game time has yet to be determined. 

--ONU—

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