OSHKOSH, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's basketball team faced a daunting task of, not only going up against its fifth WIAC school of the season, but taking on an undefeated and 21st-nationally ranked squad in UW-Oshkosh on the road, this evening, Dec. 18. The Titans backed their ranking on the way to a 65-44 non-conference win inside the Kolf Sports Center.

The Titans used a 15-2 run to break a 12-12 tie midway through the first half and never looked back, leading by as many as 24 points on the way to a 21-point victory. UW-Oshkosh took hold of a significant size advantage on the way to a dominating, 44-21, edge on the glass. The Titans converted 16 offensive rebounds into 22 points, which proved more than the difference in the outcome.

Marian senior Sarah Albert was the lone Sabre in double figures, leading all scorers with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 1-for-2 from three-point range and 4-for-4 from the charity stripe. The Titans were led by Fond du Lac native Katelyn Kuehl, who scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting to lead three in double figures.

UW-Oshkosh improved to 11-0 on the season with the win, while Marian dropped to 3-6.

Albert connected on her first three-point attempt of the game and put the Sabres ahead, 5-2, just over two minutes into the first half. Marian would hold the advantage until the 15:28 mark when Sarah Stecker's layup put the Titans back in front by a point, 8-7.

Marian's Sarah Olewinski recorded a layup of her own at the 13:31 mark to tie the game at 12-12 before the Titans made their key run.

Maggie Novak, the sister of former Marquette standout and current-NBA sharp-shooter, Steve Novak, showed that the outside shot runs in the family with one of her three triples to give the Titans a 15-12 lead before the first media timeout.

Offensive rebounds leading to second-chance points, as well as, frequent and successful trips to the free throw line, paced the Titans in the first half. UW-Oshkosh took a 37-26 lead into halftime following a 14-0 advantage in second-chance points and an 11-for-15 performance at the free throw line. The Sabres were able to get the charity stripe just twice in the opening stanza and converted both.

The second half was more of the same and the eighth-ranked scoring defense in the country flexed its muscles as UW-Oshkosh held Marian to just 18 points on 22.7 percent (5-for-22) shooting.

The Sabres shot 33.3 percent (16-for-48) for the game, while the Titans turned in a 40 percent-clip (20-for-50) from the field. Both teams went 3-for-13 from beyond the arc, while the Titans went 22-for-28 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line compared to 9-for-11 (81.8 percent) for the Sabres.

UWO's Alex Richard registered a career-high 10 rebounds to go along with two points off the bench. Stecker and Novak each added 11 points apiece in the win. Marian's Amelia Mirsberger chipped in eight points and three rebounds off the bench, while four others finished with four points each.

The Sabres will return home and jump back into Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action with a match-up against visiting Edgewood College, this Saturday, Dec. 21. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.