LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - The Marian College women's basketball team went out of conference on its bye week in the MCC and traveled to Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.

 

The Knights battled, but, ultimately, fell to the Golden Eagles, 66-55, at Derek Smith Gymnasium. The loss was the third straight for the Knights and dropped them to 18-8 overall.

 

The game did not start well for the Knights as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a seven-point lead, 13-6, over the first 8:47 of the first half. The Knights responded by outscoring Spalding, 13-7, over the next 6:14 to cut the lead to one, 20-19.

 

The teams exchanged buckets over the final six minutes and Spalding went into the locker room with a two-point advantage, 27-25.

 

The Golden Eagles came out of the locker room looking to put the Knights away by going on an 11-0 run to push the lead to 13, 38-25, with 15:07 to go in the game. The Knights clawed back to within eight, 40-32, with 12:26 to go, but Spalding pushed the lead back to 13, 47-34, with 9:22 remaining.

 

The Knights got to within six, 59-53, before Spalding closed out the final minute with free throws to earn the 66-55 win.

 

The Knights were outscored in the paint, 36-16, and shot just 31 percent (16-for-51) for the game.

 

Senior Jessica Carr (New Castle, Indiana/New Castle) led the Knights with her sixth double-double of the season after she scored 12 points and hauled down 11 rebounds. Freshman Emily Smithson (Selma, Indiana/Wapahani) talllied 13 points including 11-for-14 from the free throw line. She also added four assists for the Knights.

 

Marian College gets back on the court on Wednesday when top 25-ranked Bethel College comes to the Physical Education Center for a 7 p.m. tip.