INDIANAPOLIS - The No. 5 Marian women's basketball team opened up the 2023-24 season in convincing fashion with a 76-61 win over Rochester (Mich.) Wednesday night at the PE Center, as the Knights start the year with a 1-0 record. 

Marian took no time to get the offensive wheels flowing as Ella Collier knocked down the first basket of the season, sparking a 13-2 run to force the Rochester timeout. After the timeout, it took Rochester a minute later before scoring their second bucket of the game to end the run. The Knights continued their explosive offense as Tamia Perryman hit Aliyah Evans on the fast break, before Abbey McNally grabbed a pair of shots in the paint to extend Marian's lead to 22-6. The Warriors ended their 3:36 scoring drought with a two pointer with 24 ticks remaining to end the first quarter at 22-8 score. 

The second quarter was a slower start for both teams, with neither team scoring until the 8:32 mark when a jumper by Rochester got the scoring started. Marian got a free throw from Perryman for their first basket of the quarter, before McNally's jumper ignited a 10-0 spurt to give her team the 33-13 advantage. Rochester was able to put a stop to the run, but once again it was the Knights answering back with an Allison Bosse layup on the feed from Perryman. The two teams traded points the remainder of the quarter until it was Collier connecting with Evans on the fast break who then completed the and one to give the Knights the 40-19 favor at the break. 

After a hot start in the first half, Marian had a bit of a slow start to begin the third quarter as turnovers plagued the Knights. Rochester started to find their momentum in the quarter as they put together a 7-0 run with a little under 6:30 to play. Marian started to find their flow again after Josie Trabel found Collier in the paint for the layup, before the duo scored the next six points and Perryman added two after her steal. The twin duo teamed up as Abbey McNally hit Kiley McNally with 46 seconds left, extending the Knight lead to 56-34.

The fourth quarter proved to be a closer matchup with both teams going back and forth through the first couple minutes. Marian grew their lead to 70-45 after Taylor Double knocked down the triple, but it was Rochester clawing back at their deficit with 12 consecutive points to cut Marian's lead down to 70-56. The Knights responded a pair of freebies from Double and Sara Majorosova to pull ahead 18. The Warriors never let up as they scored five of the last seven points, but it would not be enough as Marian picked up the 76-61 win to start the season.

Abbey McNally led Marian with 17 points to go along with four rebounds, three steals and two blocks, while Collier added 15 points. Perryman did a little bit of everything, scoring 12 points, dishing out seven assists, and pulling down a team-high six rebounds. 

Marian will be back in action on Friday as they travel to Seward, Nebraska for Concordai (Neb.) Cattle Classic. The Knights will take on No. 8 Dakota State at 2 p.m. est.



MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.