Goshen, Ind. - Despite trailing through much of the first half, the Marian women's basketball team willed their way to a road victory Wednesday night, as Marian downed Goshen College 68-58 to earn their 20th consecutive win. Marian improves to 22-1 overall on the season with the win, while holding their lead in the Crossroads League as they hold a 13-0 record.
Goshen controlled the pace early Wednesday night, as Marian played from behind for the majority of the opening quarter. The Maple Leafs blitzed the Knights with an early 11-2 run, falling behind quickly in the first four minutes of play. The run would extend to 11 unanswered and a 13-2 lead for the home team before
Kinnidy Garrard snapped Marian's drought of over four minutes, while an additional three points from the senior allowed Marian to end their double-digit deficit. Garrard scored another basket in the final minute to end the period with nine, and a three from
Ella Collier with 36 seconds to play brought the score within three possessions, as Marian trailed 20-12 after one quarter.
The Knights made their push in the second quarter and got a lift from their senior class, as Garrard's 10th and 11th points of the night, along with a second three from Collier headlined a quick 5-0 rush.
Tamia Perryman and
Allison Bosse kept Marian in striking range as Goshen had pushed their lead back to seven points, while another score from Collier made it a three-point game. The 26-23 score stood in favor of the Maple Leafs for over three minutes as each team went through a mirrored drought, but in the final 2:40 the Knights captured magic, out-scoring the hosts 8-2. Collier and Bosse each scored four points in the run, as Marian took their first lead of the game with 1:46 remaining in the half before entering the break on top 31-28.
Marian would continue to get a challenge from Goshen in the third quarter, but never relented their lead as Collier helped the visitors seize control. A three-point make for Collier with 4:53 to play in the third gave Marian a 40-36 advantage, but a pair of misses allowed the Maple Leafs to reclaim a lead as they added five unanswered points in the Knights drought. Garrard would tie the game at 41-41 from the foul line with 3:05 to play, and on the following possession a three-point make from
Taylor Double pushed Marian in the lead for the remainder of the quarter. Double's three ignited a 9-3 run over the final 2:25, as Marian held a 50-46 lead entering the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter Marian pushed their lead to nine points after two minutes, as they got strong play on the defensive end. A 6-0 run would allow Goshen to inch back within one possession, but the Maple Leafs were unable to get a stop in their attempt to tie, as a three-point play from
Sara Majorosova killed their momentum. Over the final six minutes, the Knights allowed just six points from the field, holding a 10-6 edge as Collier helped ice the game away. A make from
Jayla Wehner late in the shot clock with 2:07 to play would be the proverbial dagger, helping extend the lead to double digits, as Marian ended strong in their 68-58 victory.
Despite the poor start to the game, Marian managed to shoot 46.7 percent from the floor while committing a season-low two turnovers in the win. The Knights' defense forced 15 turnovers in the win, while managing 11 steals. Collier led the way with a game-high 25 points, and Garrard ended with 18 in the win. Bosse finished with eight and
Abbey McNally scored seven, adding in a team-high seven rebounds.
Marian will return home for a stand-alone game on Friday afternoon, as they play Huntington University at 1:00 p.m. in the PE Center.
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