Junior Megan Egenolf led five Knights in double figures as they won their 14th straight game.

UPLAND, Indiana - The Marian College women's basketball team traveled to the Taylor University Holiday Classic on Tuesday night and came away with its 14th consecutive victory of the season.

 

The Knights defeated 2007-08 NAIA National Tournament participant Ohio Dominican University, 80-73, in the first game of the night at Odle Arena in Upland, Indiana.

 

It looked as if the Knights were going to cruise to another victory after they jumped out to a 17-5 lead and pushed the lead to 18, 29-11, with 7:51 remaining in the first half. However, the Panthers went on a 12-0 run over the next 4:03 to cut the gap to six, 29-23.

 

The Marian College lead fluctuated from six to eight before the Knights pushed it to 12, 39-27, with 1:07 remaining in the half. A last second bucket cut the lead to 10, 39-29, heading into the locker room.

 

The Knights shot a blistering 56 percent (14-for-25) from the field as they were able to get good looks at the basket. The Panthers were held to just 28 percent from the field (8-for-29) in the first half.

 

The Panthers opened the second frame by cutting the gap to six, 42-36, but the Knights went on a 9-0 run to open a 15-point lead, 51-36, with 16:24 remaining. Junior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) scored 10 of the Knights' first 16 points to open the second stanza as the Panthers struggled to put together two consecutive solid possessions.

 

However, ODU was able to trim away at the lead and, with 4:05 to go, cut it to one, 67-66. The Knights responded accordingly with an 8-0 run to push the lead to nine, 75-66, with 1:37 remaining.

 

The Panthers continued to fight, but even their amazing free throw shooting (26-for-30) was not enough. Freshman Emily Smithson (Selma, Indiana/Wapahani) scored six of the final seven points from the charity stripe to give the Knights the 80-73 win and their 14th straight win of the season.

 

For the second straight game, five Knights scored in double figures. Egenolf led the way with 17 points. She also grabbed three rebounds and handed out three assists.

 

Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) recorded her 11th career double-double and third of the season after she finished with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She also added a game-high four steals.

 

Senior Whitney Frame (Lynn, Indiana/Randolph Southern) added 15 points and three assists while Smithson and junior Kristin Houck (Brownsburg, Indiana/Brownsburg) each added 10 points. Smithson also had a game-high five assists for the Knights.

 

The Knights close the Holiday Classic on Wednesday when they take on St. Mary-of-the-Woods College at 12 noon. The game can be heard LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics by clicking the LISTEN LIVE link beginning at 11:45 a.m.