No. 7 Cougars Hand No. 5 Knights First Loss of Season

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The No. 7 University of Saint Francis (Ind.) women's basketball team battled No. 5 Marian University in a top-10 showdown. The Cougars edged the Knights by a final score of 56-46 to improve to 6-1 in Crossroads League action.

Saint Francis set the tone early, opening the game with 20 points in the first quarter while holding Marian to just nine on 2-of-16 shooting from the field for the early lead. Two free throws at the 4:49 mark of the second quarter pushed SF's advantage to 30–12. Despite defensive pressure from Marian late in the half, Saint Francis maintained control and carried a 35–20 lead into halftime.

The Cougars limited the Knights to just three points over the opening five minutes of the third quarter. SF held a 41–26 advantage at the media timeout and withstood a Marian push late in the period to enter the fourth quarter up 41–34. Saint Francis closed out the contest by outscoring Marian 15–12 in the final frame to secure the 56–46 upset win.

Saint Francis finished the game shooting 38.5% (20-52) from the floor and 31.6% (6-19) from three-point range while controlling the glass with a 46–38 rebounding edge. Cali Gregory led the Cougars with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds. Renna Schwieterman added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Taylor Fordyce contributed 14 points and three steals. Isabella Gizzi chipped in nine rebounds and a steal.

Up next, the Cougars (16–1, 6–1 CL) return home to host No. 20 Huntington University on Wednesday, January 14, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. at the Hutzell Athletic Center.