FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Emma Jarvey scored 16 points on 8-of-9 from the field and the Marian University women's basketball team outlasted visiting Concordia University Chicago, 58-56, in front a roaring home crowd to move 3-1 in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, this afternoon, Dec. 14.

Jarvey scored 14 of her team-best 16 points in the second half, most of them coming on layups setup by her teammates. The winless Cougars proved to be a difficult match-up for the Sabres in the form of Jessica Genke and April Broska, who both recorded game-highs with 17 points. Neither team led by more than five.

The Sabres improved to 3-5 overall, 3-1 in the NACC with the win, while the Cougars dropped to 0-6 (0-5 NACC) with the loss.

Marian led by just two points at halftime after ending the opening stanza on a 9-2 run, capped by a Molly Kovarik old-fashioned three-point play. Neither team shot exceptionally well in the first half with the Sabres at 33.3 percent (8-for-24) and the Cougars at 31 percent (9-for-29).

However, Marian would turn that around in the second half and it would prove the difference. The Sabres shot 15-for-26 (57.7 percent) in the final 20 minutes, while holding the Cougars to just 13-for-35 (37.1 percent).

What was once a category it depended on, Marian shot just one three-pointer in the second half and it was off the mark. The Sabres went 1-for-5 from beyond the arc as a team. A performance like that usually resulted in a loss for the Blue and White, but not today. Ball movement created open lanes to the basket and the Sabres took full advantage, outscoring CUC, 26-18, in the paint in the second half and, 40-26, for the game.

Trailing by five points, 42-37, with 9:48 to go, the Sabres embarked on a 10-2 run over the next four minutes that turned the tide of the game. Jarvey started the run, while Sarah Olewinski put a cap on it.

Concordia Chicago would regain the lead once more, but Marian would break a 51-51 tied in the final 1:43 with a 7-2 run before Genke's three at the buzzer provided the final tally. Senior Sarah Albert, who struggled from the field with a 1-for-7 effort, went 4-for-4 at the charity striped in the final minute of the game to seal the win.

Amelia Mirsberger and Olewinski added eight points apiece, while Albert and Jessica Roberts both chipped in seven to go along with a team-best six rebounds. Kovarik added five points and four rebounds off the bench as well.

Marian moved into a tie for fourth with the win and will take on Edgewood College (2-7, 2-4 NACC) next Saturday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. inside Sadoff Gymnasium in Fond du Lac.