Foresters keep it close with #8 Marian

HUNTINGTON, Ind. – The HU women's basketball team was a handful for #8 Marian with the second quarter proving the difference in a 71-63 decision that favored the guests Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena.

The Foresters came out strong behind a pair of Alli Vaughn triples to lead 17-12 after the first ten minutes. Not only did the hosts connect on half of their field goal attempts, at the other end of the floor they forced the Knights into seven TOs to enjoy their five-point advantage at the first break.

Unfortunately, the second quarter wasn't as productive for Maggard and crew.

Huntington managed just four field goals. Marian scored twice as many and was a perfect 5-for-5 from the line to post 23 points to HU's ten. It made for a 35-27 difference by halftime and ultimately proved the difference in the contest as the two teams played even in the second half.

Both teams scored 36 points after halftime with the Knights stretching the lead to as many as 13 midway through the third. The gritty Foresters spent the rest of the quarter whittling their deficit to six at 49-43 heading into the fourth where Celeste Ryman opened up the quarter with a long ball to trim it a single possession at 49-46.

HU stayed within striking distance the rest of the way with the Knights eventually creating a little wiggle room for themselves at the charity stripe when the hosts were forced to foul trying to play catchup.

Ryman finished with 11 points off the bench with all but two coming from long range. Gabi Melby posted a team-best 14 points to go along with four assists. Konnor Gambrell added 13 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Vaughn finished with nine points, all in the first half and from beyond the arc.

Ella Collier topped all scorers with 25 points. Abbey McNally tossed in 18 while Kenna Kirby collected 13.

The Knights (11-1) remain perfect in conference play with a 5-0 record. HU drops to 5-8 overall which includes a 1-4 league record. Next up for Huntington is a home game against Lawrence Tech on December 17.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 17 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 125 NAIA All-America honors and 449 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Reportranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.