Sioux City, Iowa - The third-seeded Marian women's basketball fought a tough fight in the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals against the Reinging National Champions Dordt falling 82-61. The Knights ended their season with an overall record of 27-8. 

The Defenders lived up to their first-seed in the tournament and No. 1 overall rank in the NAIA with their domination in the first half over the Knights out scoring Marian by 12 points. After Dordt opened up with 11 straight points Taylor Double, Kiley McNally, and Madisyn Bailey were able to get the Knights on the board with Taylor and Kiley recording a jumper each and Madisyn recording a free throw to bring the score 11-5. The Defenders continued to fire off baskets while Abbey McNally and Kiley McNally fought back with a layup each to bring the margin down to six. Dordt fired off a layup but was quickly countered by a pair of free throws from Kiley. The Defenders wrapped up the quarter with four more baskets to take the 23-11 lead.

Olivia Faust opened the second quarter with a three-pointer but Dordt was quick to counter with three more baskets to extend their lead 30-14. Bailey fired off a free throw and a layup but the Defenders continued to push with three baskets to extend their lead to 19. Abbey fired off a pair of layups only to be broken up by a layup from Dordt to end the quarter 38-21.

Out of halftime each side traded a pair of baskets with Kiley McNally recording a layup and Kenna Kirby recording a three-pointer followed up by another layup from Kiley to bring the score 42-28 in favor of Dordt. The Defenders fired off a layup but Kirby and Abbey were able to counter with a layup each to bring the margin down to 12. Dordt continued to fire off baskets recording 10 before the quarter was up. Kiley recorded a jumper and a free throw while Abbey recorded a pair of free throws and Bailey recorded a pair of free throws and a layup to end the quarter 62-41 in favor of Dordt.

Free throws were the name of the game in the final quarter with Dordt recording 14 and the Knights recording five. Eva Fisher, Madisyn Bailey, and Emily Grim recorded free throws for the Knights. Bailey, Abbey, Fisher, and Kiley all recorded layups in the fourth quarter and Kirby recorded a three-pointer. Dordt took home the 82-61 win over the Knights and advanced to the semifinals.

Kiley McNally led the team with 17 points, two assists, and one rebound. Abbey McNally and Madisyn Bailey weren't far behind each recording 12 points while Bailey recorded one rebound and six assists. McNally led the team in rebounds recording eight and two assists. Kenna Kirby recorded eight points, two rebounds, and one assist. 

The Knights ended their tremendous season in the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals and held a record of 82-61 and finished second overall and third during the season in the Crossroads League.

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