Winona Lake, Ind. - The Marian women's basketball team played from behind early in the first quarter, but after surging into the lead never looked back as the fifth-ranked Knights captured a 70-47 win over Grace College on Saturday afternoon. Marian is now 19-1 overall on the season, and improves to 10-0 in Crossroads League contests.

Marian came out flat in the opening minutes on Saturday allowing Grace to claim an early 4-0 lead, but after opening the lid on the rim with an Abbey McNally basket, the Knights raced in front with an 8-2 run to take their first lead. Aliayh Evans scored a pair of buckets that helped pull Marian in front, with the Knights expanding off their scoring burst with seven unanswered points from Ella Collier. The 7-0 run by Collier gave Marian their first sizable control on the lead, as Marian went into the second quarter on top 15-8 after Grace managed a score on their final possession.

Kinnidy Garrard got the second quarter started on the right note as she scored on the team's first possession, setting the tone in the 18-point quarter. Evans and Allison Bosse extended Marian's lead into double figures for the first time with 5:31 to play before halftime, and a score from Collier 88 seconds later gave Marian their largest first half lead at 12 points. The Lancers would whittle Marian's lead back to a three-possession game with 2:50 left in the first half on a three-point shot by Morganne Houk, but the trio of Evans, Bosse, and McNally would answer to keep the contest a 12-point game at the half. The Knights carried a 33-21 lead into halftime, shooting over 50 percent from the field.

In the third quarter the Knights put their stamp on the game, taking full control of the afternoon as they outscored the Lancers 26-10 in the period. Evans scored the first points of the second half with a jumper on the team's first possession, igniting a 12-0 run for the visitors. Collier knocked down a pair of three's in the run, as Marian doubled the Lancers total with a 45-21 lead. Grace would snap the run, but were unable to get closer than 22-points of the Knights in the period, as McNally began to shoulder the offensive load and add to her totals. Free throws from Garrard late in the quarter would push the difference to 30-points for one possession, as Marian ended the quarter leading 59-31.

With the game in hand, Marian eased off their pressure as they were out-scored in a quarter for the first time on Saturday. Grace would come no closer than 22 points of Marian, and scores from Collier and Bosse reassured the Knights grasp on the game, sealing their commanding lead. Marian would gradually rotate their reserves into the game, as the Knights closed their 10th Crossroads League win with a 70-47 victory.

Despite not making a field goal in the first four minutes or the last three minutes of the game Saturday, Marian ended the contest shooting a blistering 58 percent from the floor while holding Grace to a 35 percent clip. Ella Collier headlined the box score with a 24 point outing, shooting 10-15 from the field. McNally scored 17 points and stuffed the stat sheet with 10 rebounds, two blocked shots, and three steals, and Evans led the bench scoring with 12 points and a team-leading eight assists in the win. Bosse and Garrard combined to score the remaining 17 points from Marian's totals. 

Marian will host back to back games as they enter the final week of January, hosting on Wednesday January 31 against Spring Arbor and on Saturday February 3 against Taylor.

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