Senior Jessica Carr notched her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds against IWU.

INDIANAPOLIS - Anyone who has been to a Marian College versus Indiana Wesleyan women's basketball game knows that it is going to be a defensive struggle. Wednesday night's game at the Physical Education Center was no different.

 

Marian College came into the game as the No. 7-ranked defense in NAIA Division II and Indiana Wesleyan was ranked No. 3 and you knew it was going to be a low-scoring battle. It was.

 

The Knights fell to the No. 22-ranked Wildcats in a 58-52 barn-burner that was decided in the final five minutes.

 

The teams were separated by no more than six points. The Knights had their biggest lead, 15-9, with 9:34 remaining in the half. The half featured eight ties and four lead changes and the teams were knotted 26-26 heading into the locker room. IWU reached the free throw line 12 times in the first half and knocked down nine to keep them in the ballgame to the Knights' two.

 

However, the storyline came in the second half when both defenses dug in their heels and forced the other team to make shots.

 

The Knights took a 39-36 lead with 10:48 remaining in the game, but a layup and a pair of free throws gave IWU a one-point lead, 40-39, with 9:32 to go.

 

After IWU tied the game it looked as if neither team wanted the victory, until the 4:00 mark when fifth-year senior Whitney Frame knocked down a jumper to give Marian College a four-point lead, 48-44.

 

It was the next two possessions that decided the game. A massive three-pointer cut the gap to one, 48-47, with 3:44 remaining. A Knights' turnover and foul gave IWU the opportunity to give the game its ninth and final lead change. The Wildcats converted the free throws with 3:00 to go and the Knights could get no closer as IWU closed out the 58-52 victory.

 

The loss dropped the Knights to 15-4 on the season and 3-3 in the wide-open MCC while IWU improved to 14-6 and 3-3 in the MCC.

 

Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) notched her 12th career double-double after she tallied 14 points and 13 rebounds. It was the 10th time she has notched double figures this season and 42nd time in her career.

 

Fifth-year senior Whitney Frame (Lynn, Indiana/Randolph Southern) added 10 points, her 55th career double-digit game, while freshman Jessica Johnson (Clarksville, Indiana/Clarksville) added a career-high eight points and a game-high four assists.

 

The Knights remain at home this Saturday when the Goshen College Maple Leafs come to the Physical Education Center. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m., with the game airing LIVE at www.marian.edu/athletics by clicking on the Listen Live link on the left side of the page.