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FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Fourth-ranked University of Saint
Francis used five double-figure scorers to secure its 23rd
win of the season, a 76-64 verdict over Marian College at
Hutzell Athletic Center on Wednesday night.
Senior guard Nikki Lewis led the balanced Lady Cougars'
offensive with 17 points including 11-for-12 free-throw
shooting. Jessica Hathaway added 13 hard-earned points while
Tara Dice and Chivonn Keppeler finished with 12 points
apiece. Jenny Richards came off the bench and scored 10
points for USF, winners of 26 of its last 27 home games.
With Bethel's 16-point loss at Indiana Wesleyan, USF (23-5,
12-2 MCC) and BC are now tied for second in the MCC
"Nikki played well again, she's moving much better since
taking a game off," USF coach Gary Andrew said. "It was a
good win and I was happy with our free-throw shooting. It
was big to get a balanced scoring effort, but we also will
need to play better defense in our next game."
That would be when No. 3 Bethel College comes to Hutzell
Athletic Center for 'Senior Day' on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Marian dropped its sixth game in a row, but didn't bow out
easily. The Lady Knights (9-16, 3-11 MCC) led by as many as
three points, 16-13 with 10:30 to play in the first half.
Following the fourth tie of the game at 24, Angel Fincher
found Keppeler with a pass that she parlayed into two points
for a 26-24 lead with 4:13 to play in the half and USF led
the rest of the way. Richard scored on a rebound bucket as
time ran out for a 39-32 USF halftime lead.
A Whitney Frame 3-pointer drew MC within two at 41-39 with
17:25 to play in the second half, but USF went on a 12-2 run
to build a 53-41 lead on a Lewis layup. MC never slashed the
deficit into single digits from that 13:56 mark.
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GO USF -- |
