Marian Advances to NAIA Round of 16 for Seventh-Consecutive Season

INDIANAPOLIS - For the seventh consecutive season, the Marian women's basketball team is advancing to the NAIA National Tournament Round of 16, as the Knights won a commanding 70-47 contest on Saturday night against Columbia College in the NAIA Second Round. Marian defended its home floor one final time as they punched a ticket to Sioux City, Iowa, as they head to the Round of 16 with a 31-2 overall record and winners of 14 consecutive games. 

As they did on Friday night, Marian got off to a rocky start in the first two minutes of the game, quickly falling behind 5-0 against Columbia. A basket from Abbey McNally settled Marian into the game with a layup, and the team picked up their momentum-shifting swing from Kenna Kirby, as the senior buried a pair of three-pointers as part of a 10-0 run to give Marian the lead. The Knights continued to pour it on after the run captured a 10-5 lead, pushing in front 14-9 by the media stoppage.

The timeout dialed in Marian, as Kirby drained her third triple to ignite a 13-0 Marian sprint. Both McNally sisters contributed to the lead soaring into double figures, and Kirby capped the mark with a jumper, giving Marian a 16-point edge. Columbia would make a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first quarter, sending Marian into the second quarter with a controlling 27-14 lead.

After the big offensive start, Marian turned to its defense in the second quarter, as the Knights dialed up the intensity and made life difficult for the Cougars. Marian allowed eight points total in the quarter, with the defense making up for a less-than-challenging offensive attack that saw the Knights score three points through the first five minutes of the period. After the media timeout, Marian reset its offensive approach and trusted Madisyn Bailey with a clearout to get the scoring back, while a steal and fastbreak layup for Eva Fisher set the tone for the remainder of the half. 

Marian went on an 8-0 after Bailey's layup, and a string of defensive stops held the Cougars off the board for a 2:30 stretch, allowing the Knights to cruise into halftime leading 41-22.

The Cougars would threaten early in the third quarter, matching Marian's scores as they cut the hold on the game to 15 points. Marian stayed true to its game and maintained a lead as Abbey McNally denied Columbia from inching any further. Madisyn Bailey extended the lead after the second half media timeout with a driving layup and Olivia Faust buried a triple to reclaim a 20-point edge, as Marian got rolling again in the waning moments of the third quarter. Kiley McNally would beat the final buzzer in the third quarter after the team forced a shot clock violation, and carried the Knights into the fourth quarter on top 58-35.

The finish to the third quarter guided Marian's finishing push, as Kennedy Coleman and Olivia Faust drove the lead to 25 points in the first three minutes of the final stanza. The Knights never led by less than 19 points in the fourth, and saw the starters end the game strong with Abbey McNally making the penultimate field goal before the senior curtain call. Emily Grim would score Marian's final points, as the Knights were able to dribble out the final 25 seconds of the contest, emphatically protecting their home court in a one-sided 70-47 victory over Columbia.

Marian forced 24 turnovers in their win compared to eight committed, with the Knights not making an error until 15 minutes of play had elapsed. The team shot 50 percent from three-point land, with four of the six makes coming from Kenna Kirby, who finished the game with 14 points. Abbey McNally led the Knights in scoring with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Kiley McNally scored 10 points to go with six rebounds. Madisyn Bailey had a balanced game with nine points, five rebounds, six assists, and three steals. 

The Knights win stamped their ticket for Sioux City, Iowa, where they will play 12-seed Shawnee State University in the Round of 16. Marian's first game in Iowa will be on Friday, March 20, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern in the Tyson Events Center. More info on the game will come early next week.

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