DIRKSE’S 25-POINT OUTBURST GUIDES TIGERBALL TO A STRONG CONFERENCE START

CHICAGO, Ill. – Olivet Nazarene University's (ONU) women's basketball team opened their conference season in dazzling fashion, cruising to a 107-87 victory over Saint Xavier University on the road Wednesday evening. The Tigers fired on all cylinders, delivering an offensive explosion with 17 three-pointers and an impressive 107-point total. With five players finishing in double digits and a complete team effort on both ends of the floor, ONU made a bold statement to kick off their conference campaign.

The Tigers came out firing in the first quarter, overwhelming Saint Xavier with a 31-15 lead. Khendel Rolison was on fire, draining three of her four three-pointers in the opening period, finishing with 11 points in the first 10 minutes. Olivia Dirkse was right there with her adding 3 points and 2 rebounds of her own, helping the Tigers extend their lead. Preslee Michael made her presence felt as well, contributing 8 points and 2 rebounds in the quarter. ONU shot a blazing 45.8% from the field, including 33.3% from deep. Saint Xavier struggled to respond, shooting just 35.3% in the opening quarter and failing to keep pace with ONU's fast tempo and sharp shooting.  The Tigers' defense also made its presence felt, holding Saint Xavier to just 15 points and forcing several key turnovers in the opening minutes.

In the second quarter, the Tigers continued to press their advantage, outscoring Saint Xavier 32-24. Dirkse remained hot, adding another 6 points, including two three-pointers. Rolison kept the momentum going, contributing 3 points to bring her total to 15 for the game. Bett O'Neal stepped up in the second period, scoring 8 points and grabbing 2 rebounds, helping to further extend ONU's lead. The Tigers were in control on both ends of the floor, with strong rebounding (27-15 by halftime) and solid shooting, including 50% from the free-throw line. At halftime, ONU had extended their lead to 63-39, fueled by their depth and relentless offensive attack.

After the break, Saint Xavier showed some fight, outscoring ONU 22-20. Dirkse continued to lead the Tigers' charge, adding another 8 points to her total. Brooklyn Marshall stepped up in the third, contributing 4 points to maintain the Tigers' momentum, but Saint Xavier's offense showed resilience. ONU's bench also stepped up, with Lindsey Nell adding 4 points, and Jayden Flagg scoring 2 points in 4 minutes of action.. Despite Saint Xavier's strong performance, ONU maintained a comfortable 83-61 lead heading into the final period.

In the fourth quarter, Saint Xavier made a late push, outscoring ONU 26-24, but the Tigers' lead was simply too large to overcome. Dirkse added another 8 points in the period to finish with a game-high 25 points. O'Neal chipped in 5 more points to finish with 15, while Marshall added 6 points and 2 rebounds to her total, finishing with 14 points and 7 assists. The Tigers' depth showed once again, with Molli Ward contributing 4 more points in the final quarter. ONU's offense remained efficient, shooting 36.8% in the final period and cruising to a 107-87 victory.

Looking Ahead

ONU will travel again for a pivotal conference road matchup against St. Ambrose University on November 25th at 5:30 PM CST. With this game, Rolison reached 997 career points, and she's now just a few points away from hitting her 1,000th career point. The Tigers will look to build on their dominant offensive performance and strong team play, with Dirkse, Rolison, and Michael leading the charge. 

--ONU—

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