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59
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 12-14, 3-11 CL
86
Winner Marian (Ind.) MAR 23-3, 13-1 CL
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU
12-14, 3-11 CL
59
Final
86
Marian (Ind.) MAR
23-3, 13-1 CL
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Spring Arbor (Mich.) SAU 16 11 16 16 59
Marian (Ind.) MAR 24 20 21 21 86

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Women's Basketball falls to league leader Marian

INDIANAPOLIS – Crossroads League leader Marian University defeated the Spring Arbor University women's basketball team 86-59 Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars stayed within striking distance most of the first half, but the defending national champions, and currently No. 5 ranked, Knights used an 11-0 run late in the second quarter and would pull away in the second half for their 11th straight victory.

 
 

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Spring Arbor 59, #5 Marian 86

LOCATION: PE Center | Indianapolis, Ind.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 12-14 (3-11 CL), Marian 23-3 (13-1 CL)

 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • Rachel Nelson opened the game with a three-pointer, and Kylie Townsley followed with a layup off a Marian turnover to give Spring Arbor an early 5-0 advantage.
  • The defending national champions settled in though and used a 19-2 scoring run to gain control.
  • Townsley helped the Cougars close the gap with five straight points. Then, jumpers from Nelson and Lindsey Lehman got SAU within five, 21-16. A late three-pointer from the Knights, however, gave the home team a 24-16 lead after one quarter of play.
  • In the second quarter, buckets from Karly Bender and Rachel Driesenga made it a six point game, 28-22, with 7:01 to play in the period.
  • Behind its high-powered offense though, Marian began to pull away. An 11-0 run during a four minute span late in the quarter put MU up by 17, and the Knights would head into the locker room on top 44-27.
  • The Knights extended their lead to 20 in the third quarter and held off the Cougars for its 11th straight victory.

 
 

FOR THE COUGARS

  • Townsley led Spring Arbor with 25 points – her fourth straight game scoring at least 20 points. She was 8-for-14 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. She also added six rebounds and three steals.
  • Nelson finished with nine points while Bender and Driesenga chipped in seven apiece.
  • The Cougars shot 40 percent (21-for-53) on the afternoon.

 
 

FOR THE KNIGHTS

  • Four Knights scored in double figures, led by Jenna Sullivan's 16 points. Kellie Kirkhoff tallied 15 while Jessica Almeida and Candace Danz followed with 14 and 13, respectively.
  • The Crossroads League's top offensive team connected on 48 percent (31-for-64) of its field goal attempts, including hitting 11 three-pointers going 11-for-19 from long range. The Knights were also a perfect 13-for-13 from the charity stripe.
  • Marian held the edge in rebounding 38-30, and also turned 10 offensive rebounds into 15 second chance points.

 
 

UP NEXT

The Cougars return home to host Bethel College (8-18, 5-9 CL) on Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m.

 
 
 

Women's Basketball Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
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