Knights Earn 11th Crossroads League Championship

INDIANAPOLIS - For the 11th time in program history, the Marian women's basketball team are Crossroads League Champions, as the Knights completed their regular season conquest of the league on Saturday following the team's 72-47 victory on senior day. Marian clinched an automatic bid to the NAIA Tournament with their league championship, moving to 26-2 on the season, finishing the league slate 16-2.

The Knights locked into a defensive battle early on Saturday afternoon before finding a groove on offense, trailing after two minutes of play as a Liv Raby three gave Huntington an early lead. The lead fell on the basket and denied either team a score until the 4:26 mark, as Abbey McNally broke a 3:30 scoring silence with a layup from Taylor Double. The McNally basket got Marian going on the offensive end, as Double dropped a layup to extend the lead into two scores, while a Zoe Wheeler basket in the final minute gave Marian a multiple-score lead, seeing the Knights on top 13-7 after one period.

In the second quarter, Marian's suffocating defense made an impact on the game, limiting Huntington to just four points in the 10-minute period. A Taylor Double three-pointer got the offense on track early in the quarter, while inside scores from Abbey McNally carried the Knights to a double-digit edge. The Foresters were able to break a three-minute drought with 5:52 to play in the half as Marian led 22-11, but it would be the final score of the quarter for the visitors, as the Knights denied Huntington on each ensuing possession to end the first half.

While the defense denied Huntington points, the offense rolled on a 10-0 in the final six minutes, with Kenna Kirby and Madisyn Bailey each scoring four points in the spree to provide a 32-11 halftime lead.

The start of the third quarter looked much like the end of the second, as Marian continued to dominate on defense, leading to fastbreak points on the offensive end. Kiley McNally and Abbey McNally each scored fast break layups coming off Kenna Kirby assists, pushing Marian in front by a commanding 27 points just over four minutes into the quarter. 

Marian led 41-14 following their early surge, but Huntington would stay determined, challenging the Knights with a 13-0 run to bring the lead down to 14 points. Abbey McNally snapped the run with a three-point play with 2:19 to go, rekindling the Marian flame. Zoe Wheeler capped the quarter with a corner three-pointer, burying the trey to end the period on an 8-0, giving Marian a 49-27 lead running into the fourth quarter.

In the final stanza, Marian ran its offense through Abbey McNally, getting post touches on nearly every possession as they blitzed the first three minutes of the final quarter on a 8-2 run. A pair of Taylor Double baskets fueled the early spark, and later in the quarter, Olivia Faust drove a layup in, sealing a commanding 20-point cushion for the Knights. As Marian continued to pull away, the team checked out the four seniors of the program, as Abbey McNally, Kiley McNally, Olivia Faust, and Kenna Kirby all received a standing ovation in the final minute of play, with the four seniors guiding the Knights to a 72-47 victory and a Crossroads League Championship. 

Abbey McNally starred for the Knights in the senior day win, locking down her second 20-20 double-double of the season, as she scored 23 points while grabbing 21 rebounds. The senior also had three blocks and two steals. Madisyn Bailey finished the game with 13 points and six rebounds, and Taylor Double scored a bench-high nine points. Kiley McNally led the team in steals with three, Kenna Kirby had seven assists and rebounds, and Olivia Faust scored six points.

Marian will host Grace College in the upcoming Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. against the Lancers in the PE Center. The Knights are the one-seed and have home court advantage throughout the tournament. 

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