SEWARD, Neb. - The No. 5 Marian women's basketball fell short to No. 17 Concordia (Neb.) in the final day of the Cattle Classic, dropping 75-62 Saturday afternoon. It's Marian's first loss in the early season, putting their record to 2-1 overall on the year. 

Marian took the early 6-2 lead to start after Abbey McNally scored a pair of baskets and Kinnidy Garrard scored inside the paint. The two teams went back and forth for the next few minutes before the Knights saw their largest lead of the quarter after a jumper by Ella Collier put her team on top 18-13. Concordia answered back as they finished the first quater with a 6-4 advantage to trail Marian 22-19.

A two-point jumper allowed Concordia to take the lead at the 6:24 mark in the second quarter, but a pair of freebies by Aliyah Evans put the Knights back on top 26-25. A Bulldogs layup a few minutes later evened the score at 30-30, before a bucket by Evans sent Marian into the break on top 32-30.

Concordia held the momentum in third quarter, starting with a 10-4 run to begin the second half. Free throws from Collier and a layup by McNally cut Marian's deficit to 40-38, but it was the Bulldogs responding with a triple and layup to back ahead by five. Turnovers plagued the Knights in the final five minutes, as Concordia executed by finishing with a 9-3 spurt to hold the 56-43 lead after quarter three. 

A steal and layup by Taylor Double sparked some life into the Knights with 9:04 to play. However, Concordia did not let up as they responded with a layup of their own to go back ahead 62-46. It was back and forth action the remainder of the quarter until a steal by Olivia Faust led to a Garrard layup, igniting a 10-2 spurt that was capped off by an Allison Bosse two. Although Marian seemed to be making the comeback, Concordia held strong and pulled away in the final minutes to win 75-62.

Collier led the Knights with 18 points to go along with four assists. Garrard added 15 points and five rebounds, while Bosse scored 11 and pulled down nine rebounds. McNally also scored double digits with 10.

Marian will return to the court November 10 when they take on St. Francis (Ill.) in the annual Catholic Classic.

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