INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. —The Bethel Women’s Basketball Team (13-7, 4-6) fell 74-56 to the No. 4 Marian University Knights (18-2, 8-2) on Saturday afternoon in the Physical Education Center.
Isabel Scales led Bethel’s scoring efforts with 13 points, shooting 44 percent from the field (4-9). Mariah Claywell added double digits with ten points scored.
Jazmyn Smith led the team in total boards with eight (3-5), and the senior also ranks second on the Crossroads League Leaderboard for Overall Field Goal Percentage (59.5%).
Isabella Nooe served as the team’s assist leader (four) and holds her fourth place ranking on the Leaderboard.
While the Pilots (7-18) outshot the Knights from three (3-11), Marian’s defense more than doubled (14) the number of Pilot steals (6). Abbey McNally also proved a formidable opponent with 39 points scored for the Knights.
The Pilots had their greatest showing in the third quarter, matching Marian’s 21 point total.
Isabella Nooe splashed the first three of the third (9:09), as Bethel trailed by six (29-23). The freshman ran it back for another shot beyond the arc (8:00) to bring the score 33-26.
As the quarter neared its close, Mariah Claywell followed suit with two consecutive triples, first assisted by Hannah Ruddle.
Joslyn Marshall knocked down her own shot from downtown to decrease Marian’s lead to three (42-39).
An eight-point run by the Knights set Bethel back by eleven as the third neared its end. Justyce Williams brought the Knights’ lead back to single digits with a jumper (0:10, 50-41).
A physical game ensued in the final quarter of the afternoon, with Marian picking up nine points at the charity stripe and five steals.
Head Coach Scott Polsgrove shared, “We played really well in spurts but couldn’t sustain those runs long enough against the No. 4 team in the nation. We will learn and get better.”
The Pilots will face their next Crossroads League Opponent on Wednesday, Jan. 28 in the Gates Gymnasium. They will face the Goshen College Maple Leafs at 5 PM.