Photo Gallery
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's basketball team was in control in every facet of its 70-41 rout of visiting Edgewood College in Northern Athletics Conference play this evening, Dec. 8. The Sabres used a 23-1 run in the first half and never looked back in dispatching the Eagles inside Sadoff Gymnasium.
Ashley Backes posted a career-high 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. She scored nine of her points in the first half, all of them coming in the Sabres' 23-1 run on the way to a 30-14 halftime lead. Marian held the Eagles to just 22.4 percent from the field and turned 26 turnovers into 24 points.
The Sabres improve their record to 5-3 overall, 2-3 in the NAC, while the Eagles fall to 2-3 (2-2 NAC).
After a 5-0 run gave Edgewood College the lead and seemingly provided enough momentum to give Marian a good run from the onset, the Sabres started to hit shots. Nearly three-and-a-half minutes into the game,
Bianca Whittington hit a three to put the Sabres on the board and cut the deficit to 5-3. Next, Backes gave MU their first lead with a three-pointer to make it 6-5.
The sophomore transfer from UW-River Falls was then fouled on her next three-point attempt and sank all three freebies before scoring her ninth straight point with a three from the corner to make it 12-5 with 11:14 left in the first.
MU went on to score 20 unanswered points and closed the half on a 30-9 run. Edgewood was held without a field goal for 14:56 from the 18:57 mark to the 4:01 mark of the first half before Melissa Wellnitz hit a jumper to bring the Eagles to within 15 points, 23-8.
The second half was more of the same as Marian scored 12 points off Edgewood miscues. Six of junior
Elizabeth Zutz's points came in limited time in the second half, draining two of Marian's 13 three's as a team.
The Sabres came into the game first in the NAC in three-point percentage and showed why as they went 13-for-27 (48.1 percent) as a squad tonight.
Alexis Becker finished with 10 points, making it six straight games in double-figures for the senior.
Chantelle Vogt recorded a career-high and team-high 10 points for the Eagles. Mariah Hill and Chelsey Watkins finished with six points apiece.
Despite not a single Sabre recording double-digit rebounds, Marian tied a season-high with 44 boards on the night, out-rebounding the Eagles by 14.
Alyssa Pyscher led Marian with seven rebounds, adding nine points as well.
The Sabres will be back in action this Saturday, Dec. 10, as they host MSOE at 2 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men. The men will play host to MSOE at 4:15 p.m. Live stats and video are available via sabreathletics.com.
