INDIANAPOLIS - After trailing through three quarters of play, the Marian women's basketball team used a heroic fourth quarter effort fueled by their defense and post-offense as they came from behind to win 80-74 over Mt. Vernon Nazarene. Marian improves to 17-1 on the season and is 8-0 in Crossroads League play.

Mount Vernon came out aggressive on both ends of the court, as they knocked down open shots while using a multiple defense strategy to keep Marian at bay. The Cougars lead for the duration of the first half was established by a 14-6 spring in the opening seven minutes of play, as they would extend their lead to as many as nine in the first quarter. Marian was able to chip away and get within two scores twice in the late moments of the quarter, with Tamia Perryman scoring at the buzzer to end the period with Marian trailing 22-16.

The Cougars were able to keep their distance going into the second quarter, as they expanded their lead into double figures in under four minutes time. Josie Trabel and Kinnidy Garrard anchored Marian's offense as they were able to lower the difference within 10 points, but the Cougars surged back ahead with a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 13. Trailing 39-26 with 1:46 to play in the half, Marian turned.to Abbey McNally and Ella Collier to find momentum before the break, as each player found a bucket before halftime to cut Marian's deficit to nine. Mount Vernon carried a 39-30 lead at halftime.

The Knights began their comeback strides in the third quarter, cutting away at the 14-point deficit built by the Cougars with scores from Kinnidy Garrard and Collier. Aliyah Evans started a 6-0 run for Marian with 5:48 to play in the third that cut the margin to three possessions, while a string of five unanswered points from Garrard making it a six-point game. Garrard continued to shoulder the offensive load for Marian, as the senior scored four more points before the end of the period to make it a three-point contest in the final minute. Mt. Vernon would score the final basket of the quarter, as a late score from Peyton Davis turned the game to a 59-54 affair entering the final stanza.

The comeback would come complete in the fourth quarter, with Tamia Perryman leading the charge in the first three minutes to cut the deficit to two. The six point swing from the fourth-year player, along with a layup from Ella Collier with 6:02 took the game to it's first draw since 0-0, but Mount Vernon answered with a quick three to grab a 67-64 advantage. Mount Vernon would continue their quick hot shooting as they extended to a 7-0 run, pushing in front 71-64 with 4:22 to play.

Garrard ended the run as the clock rolled under four minutes with a paint jumper, and after a stop on the defensive end created by Abbey McNally, the sophomore was rewarded on the offensive end as she converted a three-point play. Allison Bosse got a steal on the ensuing defensive trip, leading to another basket by McNally. The sophomore continued her personal 7-0 run with a layup after a steal by Collier, driving Marian in the lead for the first time in the game with 2:28 remaining. 

McNally would score again pushing Marian's lead to four at 75-71 with 1:33 to play, sealing Marian's lead in the game. The Knights would begin the free throw game in the final minute as another pair of stops led to trips at the line, capping their run at 14 unanswered points. Marian would score five points from the line in the final minute of the game, ending their comeback victorious 80-74.

The Knights comeback win was paced by 50 points in the second half, as Marian shot over 55 percent from the floor. Garrard finished the night with 23 points and six rebounds, while McNally's late offensive surge ended her night with 17 points and nine rebounds. Tamia Perryman led the bench with 16 points in 27 minutes of play, and Evans finished the game with 10 points. 

Marian will end the first half of the conference season on Saturday at Indiana Wesleyan, as the Knights travel to play the second-ranked Wildcats at 1:00 p.m.

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