WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Up against one of the best teams in the country, the HU women’s basketball team kept it close through the first ten minutes before the #2 Knights of Marian University ran away with a 76-44 decision Friday afternoon at the Physical Education Center.

Kyndell Jochim’s buzzer-beating three to end the first quarter sent the two teams to their respective benches with MU holding onto a one-possession lead of 17-14. Unfortunately for the guests, things went sour after that.

The Knights (23-1, 14-0) held HU scoreless through the first five minutes of the second quarter which allowed them to grow their lead to 28-14 before Bailey Kelham hit her second of three long balls of the afternoon to cut it to 11. That was as close as it would be the rest of the day as Marian went on to outscore Maggard and crew 21-5 for the quarter.

The hosts continued to put their foot on the gas, distancing themselves throughout the second half to make for the hefty disparity by game’s end. Marian’s swarming defense was Huntington’s Achilles heel. HU coughed up the ball a season-high 29 times which the Knights cashed in for 39 points.

Gabi Melby finished with 14 points and four assists to lead Huntington. Kelham added 12 as the Foresters’ only other double digit scorer. Annaka Nelson grabbed eight boards to enjoy team-high rebounding honors.

Ella Collier, the likely NAIA National Player of the Year, was an efficient 7-for-11 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the line to top all scorers with 22 points. Abbey McNally posted a double double of 14 points and 11 rebounds in addition to swatting two shots and snagging two steals while Kinnidy Garrard chipped in ten points for the Knights.

The loss drops HU to 12-12 overall which includes a 6-8 league record. Maggard’s crew returns to Platt Arena on Wednesday to host Grace at 5:30 p.m.