Sioux City, Iowa - The Marian women's basketball team is still dancing with their 77-72 upset over No. 2 Cumberlands in the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16. The Knights are now 27-7 overall on the season and move to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals on Saturday.

The Knights took the early 5-0 lead with a layup by Abbey McNally and a three-pointer from Kenna Kirby. The Patriots fired back with a three-pointer but Kiley McNally was able to decrease the blow with a two point basket. The Cumberlands were able to get back on their feet and take the 9-7 lead with a trio of baskets. Marian fired back with four straight baskets to take the four point lead. Abbey recorded a pair of free throws, Kiley recorded a layup, and Madisyn Bailey recorded a layup in the run. The Patriots fired off a layup to draw a media timeout with the Knights in the 13-11 lead. Out of the media timeout Marian knocked down three more baskets only to be broken up by a jumper from their opponents. In the run Taylor Double fired off a three-pointer and Kirby recorded a pair of baskets. Each team traded a layup with Kiley recording the basket for the Knights but the Patriots were able to fire off a pair of baskets to end the quarter and decrease Marians lead 22-20.

Madisyn Bailey opened up the second quarter with a layup but the Cumberlands were able to take the 28-24 lead from Marian with a four basket run. Kiley fought back with a free throw and a pair of layups but the Patriots were able to keep pushing with a layup and three-pointer. The Knights fired off three baskets from Double and Kiley to take back the 36-33 lead. With three minutes remaining the Cumberlands outscored the Knights with four baskets compared to Double's layup. Bailey was able to take the lead with a three-pointer and layup but the Patriots had the final basket before the half to bring the game to a 43-43 bottleneck.

The Cumberlands came out of halftime with three straight baskets to take the 50-43 lead. Olivia Faust and Abbey answered with a layup each but the Patriots were able to counter with a jumper. Abbey fired off another layup and free throw to bring the margin down to two. The Cumberlands fired off a free throw but Faust's jumper and Kiley's trio of free throws allowed Marian to take the 54-53 lead. The Patriots fired off a layup but the Knights were able to quickly counter with a pair of free throws from Abbey. Each side traded baskets with Kiley and Abbey each recording a basket for Marian. The Cumberlands tied up the game 60-60 with a free throw once more to end the quarter.

Abbey, Kirby, and Double opened up the final quarter with a four basket run for the Knights to take the 66-60 lead. The Cumberlands pushed back with a pair of baskets but Abbey quickly fired off three points to increase the Knights lead. Each team traded baskets once more with Double recording the basket for Marian to increase the lead 71-67. With 1:27 remaining on the clock the Cumberlands fired off a pair of free throws but Bailey fired off a layup in return to maintain the four point lead. The Patriots fired off a free throw and layup but Marian was able to clinch the upset with a layup from Kiley and duo of free throws from Double to end the game with the 77-72 win.

Abbey McNally led the team with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Kiley McNally recorded 17 points on the evening leading the team in rebounds with eight. Taylor Double recorded 16 points and four assists while Madisyn Bailey recorded 11 points, four assists, and led the Knights in assists with nine. Kenna Kirby recorded nine points and one rebound while Olivia Faust recorded four points and two rebounds. 

With her 20 points Abbey McNally was able to break Ella Colliers single-season scoring record for the Knights and now records over 1500 points in her career. 

Marian's victory allows them to move on to the Quarterfinals on Saturday as they take on No.1 Dort at 3 p.m. CT on March 22nd.

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