TERRE HAUTE, IND. --
Marian University relied on a strong defensive effort to hold off a
second half Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology charge and earn a
61-52 women's basketball victory on Saturday
afternoon.
Sophomore Lauren Meadows (Indianapolis/Brebeuf) scored a game-high 16 points, including 6-6 from the free throw line and six rebounds, to pace the Rose-Hulman offense.
Senior Donna Marsh (Mobile, Ala./Baker) and sophomore Erin Davey (St. Charles, Mo./Incarnate Word) each contributed nine points to the effort. Marsh added six rebounds and four blocked shots.
Other key contributors for the Engineers included junior Alisa Dickerson (Elizabethtown, Ky.) with six points and three rebounds; and freshman Kelsey Ploof (Noblesville) with four points and five rebounds.
The Marian offense featured three players in double figures, led by 16 points from Natalie Robinson. Rachel Kenney and Emily Smithson scored 14 points each.
Marian led 31-24 at halftime after shooting 44% from the field. The Engineers remained within striking distance by hitting 12 of 14 free throw attempts in the opening 20 minutes.
In the second half, the Engineers relied on a free throw by Marsh to close within 33-25, before Marian answered with an 11-3 run to push its lead to 44-28. The Knights pushed the lead to 20 points at 61-41 with 4:19 remaining.
Rose-Hulman rallied in the final four minutes the game's last 11 points to move within 61-52. Meadows scored eight points, Ploof added a layup, and junior Rebecca Bowermaster (Wood River, Ill./Roxana) added a free throw in the Engineer run.
Marian improved to 8-4 on the season, while Rose-Hulman
dropped to 3-6. The Fightin' Engineers travel to nationally
ranked DePauw University on December 28.