WINONA LAKE, Indiana - The Marian College women's basketball team traveled to Grace College on Wednesday night for a Mid-Central College Conference road test at the Orthopaedic Capital Center.

 

The Knights were able to pull out a 79-74 victory in overtime to secure an 8-0 overall record and a 2-0 mark in MCC play.

 

The first half was a back-and-forth affair as there were seven ties and five lead changes in the first 20 minutes. Through the first 16 minutes of the game neither team had a lead larger than five points until the 4:07 mark when the Knights took control.

 

The Knights closed the half on a 14-3 run to take an 11-point lead before a buzzer-beating three-pointer cut the gap to eight, 42-34, heading into the locker room.

 

Marian College shot 63 percent (17-for-27) in the first half and outrebounded the Lancers, 19-13.

 

With the score 49-40 and 15:37 remaining in the game, the Lancers went on a 10-2 run to cut the gap to one point, 51-50, with 12:05 to go in the game. The Knights pushed the lead back to five on three occasions over the next seven minutes, but Grace would not go away.

 

The Lancers chipped away at the Knights over the final five minutes and with 1:09 remaining tied the score, 68-68.

 

The teams traded turnovers and missed shots before the Knights ended up with the ball and 7.6 seconds on the clock.

 

A lane opened for fifth-year senior Whitney Frame for a layup, but the entry pass was kicked away with just over three seconds on the clock. The next play saw junior Kristin Houck get two shots at the basket, but both went begging to send the game into overtime. The first overtime game for the Knights since the Rose-Hulman game last season (12.18.07).

 

Grace completed the comeback with the first bucket of the extra session to take their first lead since the 8:27 mark of the first half, 70-68. However, the Knights outscored the Lancers 11-4 over the final 4:16 to earn the 79-74 victory and avenge last season's defeat at the OCC.

 

Senior Whitney Frame (Lynn, Indiana/Randolph Southern) had a team-high 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 37 minutes. Freshman Emily Smithson (Selma, Indiana/Wapahani) had a career-high 17 points and dished out a game-high six assists while playing all 45 minutes for the Knights. She also added a game-high three steals.

 

Junior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) had 16 points, four rebounds (all offensive), and five assists. Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) finished with nine points and a game-high nine rebounds.

 

The Knights look to continue their winning ways when they play host to the No. 20-ranked University of Saint Francis (IN) on Saturday at the Physical Education Center. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip.