SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Marian women's basketball fought until the end, but were unable to withstand a scrappy Central Methodist team Wednesday afternoon inside the Tyson Events Center. Marian's season came to a close in the NAIA Quarterfinals against Central Methodist 52-48, closing the year with a 29-6 record.
The first quarter was a battle as both teams went at it, trading points throughout. Jayla Wehner got the game going with a deep two-pointer before a three by Allison Bosse at the 6:01 mark ignited the Knights, giving them the 9-4 lead. After trading baskets, Central Methodist cut their deficit down to two off of the Marian turnover. Ella Collier returned the favor moments later as she picked up the steal that would lead to a shot in the paint for Bosse. The Eagles had the final say of the quarter, but it was the Knights leading 14-12 after quarter one.
Marian started the second quarter with back-to-back buckets from Bosse and Collier before CMU matched to cut the Knights' lead to three at 19-16. Neither team could score for the next three minutes before Bosse ended the scoring drought with a pair of free throws to put her team back up five. The remainder of the quarter went point for point until Marian got scores from Aliyah Evans and Collier to go into halftime ahead 30-22.
Central Methodist attacked first to start the third quarter on a 5-1 run before the Knights answered back with Kinnidy Garrard and Collier knocking down shots. Marian struggled to get a bucket besides free throws, but Bosse took her defender to the hole to take 40-35 lead. However, a 13-5 spurt from the Eagles allowed the game to be deadlocked at 40-40 going into the final quarter.
After a turnover by the Knights, CMU executed on the play to take their first lead of the game and got out to a 6-0 run to take the 46-40 advantage at the 5:45 mark. Marian answered with their own 6-0 run that got started by four points from Abbey McNally to even it up at 46-46. With 2:26 left in the game, the Eagles went back up by two after two freebies, but it was Collier tying it back up with the layup. A second chance basket from CMU with 1:01 remaining gave them the 50-48 lead.
Marian had a chance to tie with 45 ticks left as Garrard was fouled but both rimmed out as Central Methodist gathered the defensive rebound. The Knights played tough defense as the Eagles worked the clock, however CMU threw up a circus shot with the shot clock winding down that would find its way in to go ahead 52-48. In the final 11 seconds, Marian had several opportunities, but missed free throws and the second chance looks didn't fall as time ran out. The Knights would fall 52-48.
Collier finished with a game-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds. Boose added 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds, while McNally added six points and seven rebounds. Garrard also pulled down seven rebounds and Wehner dished out a game-high five assists.
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