Marian University women’s basketball program captured its third NAIA National Championship Tuesday with a 73-62 win over Dordt, the two-time defending national champions.
The Knights completed a program-best 35-2 season.
Playing in front of a large and raucous crowd at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, Iowa, Marian raced out to a 10-2 lead early.
The Knights extended the lead to 22-12 in the second quarter, but the Defenders used a 9-1 run to cut the lead to two points.
Olivia Faust (photo), a Triton Central graduate, answered with a three-pointer for a 26-22 lead.
Dordt kept pushing and took its first lead of the game, 27-26, with 1:51 left in the second quarter. That lead grew to 32-28 by halftime.
Both teams exchanged baskets in the third quarter. Marian finally got the lead at 39-38 but Dordt followed with a 3 for its last lead in the game.
The Knights got the game tied then Faust delivered another 3 for the lead. That started a 10-0 run for Marian and a 55-46 lead after three quarters.
The Knights opened the lead to 63-50 with four minutes to go and Dordt never recovered.
Madison Bailey scored a career-high 23 points for Marian. Abbey McNally finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds.
Faust came off the bench to play 27 minutes and scored seven points, grabbed four rebounds and had two assists.
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