INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian College women's basketball team struggled from the field against Taylor University's 2-3 zone defense in a 70-58 defeat to the Trojans at the Physical Education Center on Wednesday night.

 

The loss dropped the Knights to 18-7 overall and 6-6 in Mid-Central College Conference play.

 

The Knights opened the game quickly by taking a seven-point lead, 11-4, with 16:09 to go in the first half. However, Taylor was able to push back with an 11-4 run of its own over the next 5:41 to tie the game, 15-15, with 10:28 to go.

 

Taylor was able to seize control and push the lead to four on two occasions, but the Knights fought back each time to tie the game. However, the Trojans were able to carry a 28-26 lead into the locker room.

 

Both teams had a rough time in the first half as the Knights shot 31 percent while Taylor shot just 30 percent. However, the Trojans were able to get to the free throw line and knocked down 10-of-11 to Marian's two.

 

The Trojans came out in the second half and outscored the Knights 14-5 over the first 5:21 of the frame to take an 11-point lead, 42-31. The Knights struggled to recover as Taylor was able to maintain the lead and were up by 10, 49-39, with 11:09 remaining.

 

The Knights were able to fight back as they went on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to two, 51-49, with 7:47 remaining. The Trojans went back up six, 55-49, before the Knights cut the lead back to three, 57-54, with 4:39 to go. However, a huge three-pointer with 4:30 to push the lead to six, 60-54.

 

The Knights cut it back to four on a jumper by senior Jessica Carr, but a 5-0 Taylor run pushed the lead to nine, 65-56, with 2:06 remaining. The Trojans were able to close out the Knights and pick up the 70-58 win.

 

Junior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Indiana/Plainfield) led two Knights in double figures with a game-high 16 points and added seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Junior Kristin Houck (Brownsburg, Indiana/Brownsburg) finished the game with 12 points and seven rebounds.

 

Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds for the Knights.

 

The Knights hit the road on Saturday for a rematch with Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. The Golden Eagles defeated the Knights, 68-66, at the Physical Education Center earlier this season. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.