MARSHALL POURS IN 24 POINTS TO LIFT TIGERBALL OVER GSU
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Governors State (13-4, 7-2) | 13 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 67 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (IL) (9-7, 6-2) | 25 | 21 | 34 | 14 | 94 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – Olivet Nazarene University's (ONU) women's basketball team cruised to a 94-67 victory over Governors State University on Saturday afternoon inside McHie Arena. Brooklyn Marshall led the charge, delivering a standout performance as the Tigers picked up their sixth conference win of the season.
The Tigers came out strong in the first quarter, shooting 52.6% from the field and an impressive 50% from three-point range. Marshall set the tone with 8 points early on, while Bett O'Neal and Khendel Rolison added a combined 7 points. ONU's defense was stifling, limiting the Jaguars to just 13 points in the opening period. The Tigers' hot shooting, combined with their strong defensive effort, allowed them to take a comfortable 25-13 lead into the second quarter.
In the second quarter, ONU's shooting from beyond the arc cooled off dramatically, with the Tigers connecting on just 1 of 8 three-pointers (12.5%). However, their defense remained solid, limiting Governors State to just 10 points. The Tigers stayed aggressive and capitalized at the free-throw line, making both of their attempts. By halftime, ONU held a commanding 46-23 lead.
ONU bounced back from their second-quarter shooting struggles, hitting 44.4% of their three-pointers in the third. Marshall added another 6 points, and O'Neal and Kalli Papenfuss contributed timely buckets. ONU shot 58.3% from the field in the period, and key contributions from the bench helped the Tigers outscore Governors State 34-17 in the third. Jayden Flagg provided valuable scoring off the bench, adding 4 points. The Jaguars attempted a run but couldn't close the gap, and ONU maintained a comfortable 80-40 lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth, Governors State outscored ONU 27-14, but the Tigers remained composed despite the late push. Marshall continued her strong performance, adding 2 points, while the bench added a combined 6 points to help keep the lead intact. Despite the slower offensive output, ONU's defense held steady, and the Tigers closed out the 94-67 win.
Looking Ahead
ONU will look to build on this strong performance as they travel to Calumet College of St. Joseph for a road conference game on Jan. 15th at 5:30 p.m. CST. With the combination of balanced scoring, sharp shooting, and solid defense, the Tigers are poised to continue their push toward the top of the conference standings.
--ONU—
*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu
