Upland, Ind. - The Marian women's basketball team picked up their eighth win of the 2023 season and 10th consecutive over Taylor University, as the Knights scored a 74-60 win over the Trojans in Olde Arena Saturday afternoon. Marian moves to 3-0 on the young Crossroads League season, while jumping to 8-1 overall on the season.
The first quarter went back and forth, as Marian and Taylor traded scoring possessions throughout the opening quarter of the game.
Ella Collier scored the first points of the game with a pair of free throws, and ended the opening period with five points after knocking down an open trey on in the first four minutes. Taylor would capture their first lead of the day at the 6:47 mark, and continued to go back in front as they traded baskets with
Kinnidy Garrard. The Trojans led by as many as five in the first quarter, and held a 22-19 lead going into the second quarter as a late score from
Allison Bosse cut the difference to three in the final minute.
Marian responded after their three turnover opening quarter, and began the second period on a 6-0 run to take a 25-22 lead. Collier and
Aliyah Evans headlined the run to push the Knights in front, as Marian led for the remainder of the half. Taylor would tie the score with 6:02 to play in the half with a Hope Custer three, but Garrard and
Josie Trabel quickly put the Knights back in control. Marian would lead by as many as seven in the half thanks to Collier's layup with 21 ticks left on the clock, however they would only carry a four-point, 35-31 advantage to the locker room as Quinn Kelly drained a Trojan three in the waning seconds.
A three-pointer from
Allison Bosse on Marian's first offensive possession to start the second half started Marian on the right note, as scores from
Abbey McNally and Collier pushed the lead to double figures. Marian's lead continued to hold at four possessions as the offensive weapons for the visitors matched each time Taylor through a counter at their opposition. The Knights led by as many as 12 in the third quarter as they began to put a grasp on the game, leading 53-42 going into the fourth quarter.
The final quarter ended as the game's second-highest scoring quarter, as Marian out-scored Taylor 21-18.
Ella Collier and
Kinnidy Garrard continued to be the offensive scoring weapons and pushed the lead to 13 points with just over six minutes remaining, while the lead would hit 14 points just under three minutes later on a three from Bosse. Marian let off the gas for a brief moment in the final three minutes of the game allowing Taylor to cut the lead in half as a 7-0 run made it a 67-60 game with 1:14 to play. The Knights were able to stay in control after Taylor began fouling, keeping composed as Collier and
Jayla Wehner knocked down free throws while the defense pitched a shutout for the final 74 seconds, as they closed the win on top 74-60.
Collier played all 40 minutes in the game and led all players with 23points, adding five assists, four rebounds, and one steal. Garrard scored 17 points in the win to go with a team-high nine rebounds, and Bosse finished with 13 points.
Abbey McNally scored 12 points and had eight rebounds in the win, scoring 10 of her 12 in the second half.
Jayla Wehner finished the game with six assists to lead the Knights.
Marian will head to non-conference play for the remainder of the month, and have a tough test coming their way on Tuesday, December 5 as they host No. 11 University of the Cumberlands at 6 p.m. in the PE Center.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.
