INDIANAPOLIS - Aiming to get back in the win column after suffering its first defeat of the 2025-26 campaign, the Marian women's basketball team dominated quarters two through four on Wednesday night against Indiana Wesleyan, running away with an 84-47 victory. The fourth-ranked Knights improve to 17-1 on the season and 7-1 in the Crossroads League.

Despite scoring the first points of the night with a Kenna Kirby fastbreak layup, the Knights played from behind throughout Wednesday's first quarter, as Indiana Wesleyan came out aggressive on a 5-2 start. It took time for the Knights to settle into a groove as the Wildcats expanded their lead to five points, but Marian would keep in the game with baskets from Kirby and Olivia Faust. Indiana Wesleyan would end the quarter outscoring Marian 10-6 after the media timeout at the 4:31 mark, knocking down a pair of three-point shots to keep the Knights in a deficit at the quarter break.

Marian trailed 19-14 after one quarter of play.

As the second quarter began, so too did the Knights' offensive assault, as an early steal and fastbreak layup from Kiley McNally ignited the scoring in a 25-point period. Olivia Faust and Taylor Double scored consecutive baskets to tie the game at 21-21 with 5:56 to play in the half, setting the tone as the Knights began to pull away in the final six minutes of the half. 

The Wildcats would snap the streak with consecutive baskets as Alya Krygier answered Double, but it would do little to slow the Knights, as Marian scored the game's next six points. The spark created by Double and Faust saw Marian end the first half on a 20-6 run, controlling the final six minutes of the period to take a one-sided 39-27 lead.

Marian's hot offense carried over into the third quarter, as the team poured another 21 points on the scoreboard, extending the lead to 20 points throughout the quarter. Abbey McNally started the 21-point period with the half's first points, while a dose of Madisyn Bailey's points and assists pushed Marian to 50-36 edge. In the final three minutes, Zoe Wheeler took control of the game, as the momentum from her first half buzzer-beater carried into the quarter as she scored seven consecutive Marian points. Wheeler's hot shooting pushed Marian on top 60-39 at the end of three quarters.

The Knights closed their strong victory with a one-sided fourth quarter, pouring on 24 points while holding the Wildcats to eight in the last 10 minutes. Abbey McNally and Madisyn Bailey each finished off double-doubles with strong play in the quarter, scoring or assisting on the team's first 15 points in the stanza. Kenna Kirby put the finishing touches on the game for the Knights, scoring the team's last points in Marian's one-sided 84-47 victory.

The 37-point victory is Marian's second-largest victory over Indiana Wesleyan in program history, one point shy of the mark previously set on February 28, 2020, in a Crossroads League Tournament victory.

Abbey McNally paced Marian in the win, pouring in 23 points while snaring 17 rebounds, recording her fourth consecutive double-double and 10th of the season. Madisyn Bailey's double-double was the first in her career, as the point guard had 10 points and 10 assists, while also grabbing five rebounds and four assists. Taylor Double finished the night with 15 points, Olivia Faust scored 14, and Zoe Wheeler had a bench-leading 10 points. 

Marian finished the game plus-16 on the glass, while shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. 

Marian finishes the first half of league play on the road Saturday afternoon, traveling to (RV) Huntington for a 1:00 p.m. contest with the Foresters. 

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