WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The regular season came to a close Saturday afternoon for the (RV) HU women’s basketball team at the PE Center with the Foresters dropping a 72-47 decision to No. 4 Marian University.

The Knights (26-2, 16-2), celebrating Senior Day, brought the full force of a team ranked second in the league in scoring (80.0 ppg) and first in points allowed (51.7 ppg). The Foresters felt both ends of that equation.

Marian grabbed the lead just two minutes in – an advantage that proved permanent. Huntington stayed within striking distance early, trailing just 13-6 after one quarter, but the second stanza proved costly. HU’s offense stalled while the Knights erupted for a 19-4 run to build a commanding 32-11 halftime lead.

The Foresters (18-10, 10-8) refused to go quietly. Coming out of the break, Huntington found its rhythm and more than doubled its first-half output in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. A long jumper by Kyndra Sheets capped a 14-0 run that trimmed the deficit to 41-27 and forced Marian head coach Suntana Anderson to burn a timeout.

The stoppage shifted momentum back to the hosts. Marian answered with eight straight points and carried a 49-27 cushion into the final quarter. The fourth was nearly even (23-20), but the early damage held as the Knights secured a 25-point win – avenging their 77-66 loss to HU on January 17, one of just two defeats they’ve suffered this season.

Huntington shot 29.1 percent (16-of-55) from the floor and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from three, while knocking down 9-of-10 at the free throw line. The Foresters won the rebounding battle 45-42, including 13 offensive boards, but were hindered by 23 turnovers.

Annaka Nelson led HU with 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting effort and added six rebounds. Liv Raby chipped in 10 points and six boards, while Sheets finished with eight points. Lauryn Merritt provided a spark off the bench with six points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Teegan Acres and Addie Shank each collected seven rebounds.

Marian shot 40.0 percent (30-of-75) and was powered by Abbey McNally’s dominant 23-point, 21-rebound performance. Madisyn Bailey added 13 points, while Taylor Double (9), Kiley McNally (8) and Zoe Wheeler (7) rounded out the top scorers for the Knights.

Despite dropping three straight to close the regular season, Huntington enters the Crossroads League Tournament as the No. 4 seed. Tied with Bethel and Indiana Wesleyan at 10-8 in league play, the Foresters earned the edge as the only team among the trio to defeat top-seeded Marian.

First-round action begins Tuesday with Huntington hosting fifth-seeded Indiana Wesleyan at Platt Arena. Tip-off to be announced.