INDIANAPOLIS - From the opening tip Marian University controlled the pace against the high-tempo Olivet Nazarene Tigers, as Marian built a double-figure lead in the first quarter as they rolled to a 91-70 victory in the PE Center. Marian is now 5-0 after the win, as the Knights now boost the No. 19 ranking in the NAIA.

Marian scored the first time they touched the ball Wednesday night, getting a steal and fastbreak layup from Kiley McNally to open the high-octane game. Taylor Double and Eva Fisher pushed Marian's lead to five as the home team continued to run in transition, while the first points of the game for Abbey McNally gave the Knights a 10-3 edge in under four minutes of play. Abbey McNally and Fisher would continue to score at will as the lead swelled to double figures in less than six minutes. Olivet Nazarene's run-and-gun style of play allowed Marian to find open layups, as McNally ended the 30-point quarter with a transition basket, giving the Knights a 30-15 lead.

The Knights pushed their lead to 20 points in the third minute of the second quarter, getting a driving layup from Kiley McNally after an Eva Fisher steal. Leading 38-18, Marian settled for mid-range shots rather than layups for a short spell, allowing the Tigers to inch back within 14 points with 2:25 to play before the half. The Knights toughened their defense and prevented Olivet Nazarene from scoring for nearly two minutes as the clock wound down, and got a score from Abbey McNally to end the half as they maintained a 51-36 lead at the break.

Olivet's pressure and a lack of makes from Marian allowed the Tigers to recover in the early minutes of the third quarter, as the lead dwindled to eight points five minutes into the period. Abbey McNally stopped the bleeding with a layup, and saw a score from Eva Fisher on the next possession to bring the lead to 12. Carrying a 61-49 lead with 4:15 to play in the third quarter, Marian attacked and pushed their lead to 18, getting another open layup from Fisher to extend the lead to 18. Fisher's make in the final minute of the game gave Marian a 72-54 lead entering the final quarter.

Marian would out-score Olivet Nazarene 19-16 in the final quarter of play, as Taylor Double and Madisyn Bailey vaulted the lead back over 20 points. Scoring from Emily Grim in the final minutes of the game helped seal the win, helping the Knights lead by as many as 24 points before ending the game victorious 91-70.

Abbey McNally had a career-night in the victory, scoring a career-best 28 points while grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds. McNally also recorded three blocked shots and three steals. Taylor Double also had a career-high in points, scoring 18 while grabbing six rebounds and three steals. Kiley McNally finished the game with 14 points, and Eva Fisher had a career-best 12 points. Madisyn Bailey posted a season-best nine assists in the win, and Fisher led the team in steals with five. 

Marian ends their week with a top-25 matchup, traveling to No. 8 University of the Cumberlands on Saturday night. Tip is set for 6:00 p.m.

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