MISHAWAKA, Indiana - The No. 16-ranked Marian College women's basketball team traveled to No. 11 Bethel College on Saturday afternoon in a battle of NAIA Division II Top 25 teams.

 

The Knights could not overcome a 35 percent shooting day and were unable to capitalize on stellar defense which held Bethel to just 28 percent shooting in a 54-41 defeat.

 

The Knights fall to 15-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Mid-Central College Conference.

 

It was a defensive game in the first half as the score was just 10-4 with 10:15 remaining in the first stanza. The Knights cut the lead to four, 15-11, with 5:46 remaining in the half before Bethel went on a 15-3 run to close the half with a 30-14 lead.

 

Marian College won the second half, 27-24, but the first half hole was too deep for the Knights to climb out as they could only get the lead down to 13 and that was the difference in the 54-41 defeat. The Knights shot 44 percent (12-for-27) in the second half and held Bethel to just 26 percent from the field (7-for-27) in the second frame.

 

The Knights held the Pilots to just 28 percent from the field (14-for-50) and seven percent from three-point range (1-for-14). However, the Knights turned the ball over a season-high 34 times leading to 21 Bethel points. The Pilots also reached the free throw line 35 times with 25 made while the Knights made it to the line just seven times making six.

 

Senior Whitney Frame (Lynn, Indiana/Randolph Southern) led the Knights with 12 points, four rebounds, two assists, and four steals. Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) added four points and 11 rebounds for the Knights. Junior Molly Lauck (Greenwood, Indiana/Center Grove) also had seven points and six rebounds.

 

The No. 16-ranked Knights return to the Physical Education Center on Wednesday when No. 18-ranked Indiana Wesleyan comes to town. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. The game can be heard LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics by clicking the LISTEN LIVE link.