MARION, Indiana - The Marian College women's basketball team played with the No. 22-ranked Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats for 22 minutes on Saturday afternoon before IWU went on a massive run to earn a 72-46 victory.

 

The Knights fell to 18-10 overall and 6-8 in Mid-Central College Conference play.

 

The two teams went back-and-forth for the first 8:41 as they were tied five times including a 10-10 knot with 11:19 to go in the half. However, the Wildcats went on a 10-0 run to take a 21-10 lead with 8:23 to go.

 

The Knights responded by cutting the gap to three, 25-22, with 3:50 to go in the half. However, the Wildcats were able to push the lead to nine, 33-24, heading into the locker room.

 

After the Wildcats pushed the lead to 11, 35-24, with 19:50 remaining in the game, the Knights went on a 6-0 run to cut it to five, 35-30, with 17:52 to go. That was when the wheels seemed to come off for the Knights.

 

The Wildcats outscored the Knights 32-5 over the next 11 minutes to take a 32-point lead, 67-35, with 6:52 remaining. The Wildcat post players scored 24 of those 32 points and outscored the Knights' post players 24-3 in the 11 minutes and the Knights turned the ball over five times during that span.

 

The Knights closed the game by outscoring the Wildcats 10-7, but the damage had been done as IWU cruised to the 72-46 victory.

 

The Knights outrebounded the Wildcats, 27-26, but IWU outscored the Knights 42-24 in the paint. The Knights also turned the ball over 26 times to the tune of 31 IWU points.

 

Freshman Emily Smithson (Selma, Indiana/Wapahani) led the Knights with 10 points. She also had four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 40 minutes of action.

 

Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) scored nine points and a game-high six rebounds while junior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) also had a game-high six rebounds.

 

The Knights remain on the road when they head to Goshen College on Wednesday night. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. with the game being called LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics by clicking the LISTEN LIVE link on the left.