WINONA LAKE, Ind. - It was a night of milestones and momentum for Marian women's basketball on Wednesday night, as the Knights surged past Grace College 97-66 in convincing fashion, highlighted by Abbey McNally joining elite company as the third player in program history to eclipse 2,000 career points. Marian's win is the sixth consecutive, improving the team's overall record to 23-2 on the year and 13-2 in the Crossroads League.

Marian started their track meet victory early and often, scoring in transition as they matched up against Grace's full-court pressure with ease. Olivia Faust scored the first points of the game after Marian won the tip, while a pair of Taylor Double baskets got the Knights rolling. Abbey McNally then took over as the defense began to increase intensity, scoring three straight baskets for six quick points. The quick attack for McNally, who scored the third basket off a pass from her sister Kiley McNally, gave the senior her 2000th career point, allowing her to further etch her name in the program record book as she tied Lakan Hasser-Smith for second all-time in career scoring.

The string of McNally points gave Marian a 12-7 lead, and was followed by a three-pointer and layup from Taylor Double, extending the hot start as the pair of scores capped a streak of seven made shots in a row to open the game. The Knights began to string consecutive stops to upset the Lancer rhythm, and before the media timeout, Faust gave the Knights a 21-15 lead with her second make of the game. Marian's offense would slow the pace after the timeout, taking over control of the game as they closed out the final five minutes on a 10-5 run, leading 31-20 at the end of the first.

After a strong first quarter, a one-sided second quarter sealed little doubt that the night belonged to Marian, as Madisyn Bailey scored the opening points in the period and then recorded a steal, finding Kiley McNally to cap a quick four points. Bailey's defense made life difficult for Grace, as she swiped another steal, turning it into a fastbreak layup to force a Lancer timeout. The stop was one of many for the Knights, as both McNally's, Bailey, and Double combined for a 20-0 run to begin the quarter, as Grace was held scoreless until there was 3:36 remaining before halftime.

Kenna Kirby and Emma Simpson would add to Marian's large lead over the final four minutes of the half as the defense continued to be a force, leading to the Knights' 62-28 halftime lead. Marian ended the second quarter allowing eight Grace points, forcing 16 turnovers in the period while holding the Lancers to a 2-10 shooting effort.

The dominant first half was more than enough for the Knights, as they were able to rotate everyone into the game as the second half played out. Marian out-scored Grace 14-10 in a low-scoring third quarter, getting a quarter-high six points from Eva Fisher. Grace would go on to lead the fourth quarter by a 28-21 margin, but the Knights had completed putting its stamp on the game, as the reserve unit led Marian through the majority of the period, sealing off the team's 97-66 victory.

Abbey McNally scored 15 points in Marian's one-sided victory, doing so in 19 minutes of play. McNally joined program greats Lakan Hasser-Smith and Ella Collier in the Knights' 2000-point club, becoming the third Knight and 14th player in Crossroads League history to achieve the milestone. McNally would end the game with 2009 career points, cementing herself in second place on the Marian leaderboard, 251 shy of Collier's program record 2260 points established in 2024. 

Taylor Double ended the night with a game and season-high 16 points, adding three assists and two steals to her final line. Madisyn Bailey stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, six assists, five rebounds, and four steals, and Eva Fisher led the bench, matching her career-high with 12 points. Kiley McNally led Marian in rebounding with seven, matching her scoring totals, and Emma Simpson scored a season-high seven points while blocking one shot. 

The Knights ended the night forcing 32 Grace turnovers, while holding the home team to a 32 percent shoting night. 

Marian will end its week on the road, traveling to the University of Saint Francis on Saturday for a top-10 showdown with the Cougars. Tip is at 1:00 p.m., as the Knights and Cougars matchup in a game that will largely factor into the determination of the Crossroads League Regular Season Champion. 

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