AURORA, Ill. (SabreAthletics.com) – The Marian University women's basketball team may have solved their shooting woes, but its counterpart did not waver as host Aurora University pulled out the narrow, 65-59, victory in a contest that featured 10 ties and 20 lead changes, inside Thornton Gymnasium, this evening, Jan. 15.

Neither team led by more than eight points and, for the most part, both teams took pretty good care of the basketball. The Spartans (7-8, 6-4 NACC) committed eight turnovers in the contest, while forcing Marian into just 13. However, Aurora was able to turn those into 15 points and converted all 11 of its free throws in the second half, including nine down the stretch, to stave off a feisty Marian squad.

Marian (3-12, 3-7 NACC) was led by Sarah Albert's 20 points on 7-for-9 shooting, including a 6-for-6 effort from three-point range in the first half alone. The Sabres shot over 41 percent as a team, including 43.3 percent (13-for-30) from downtown. Dani Huray added 12 points, while Sarah Olewinski chipped in seven points, eight rebounds and three assists.

For nearly the entire second half, the difference in the game stayed within a possession. Then, with under three minutes to go and trailing 56-52, the Sabres had a chance to cut into the deficit. Albert launched a three, but missed her only attempt of the night. After two missed opportunities for Aurora, the Sabres regained possession.

A Jessica Roberts missed free throw after a foul gave the ball back to the Spartans and they decided to let some time run down. With 1:31 remaining, Shay Jenkins hit a back-breaking three with the shot clock winding down to make it a seven-point game.

"That was the turning point in my mind," Head Coach Bill Peters said. "A missed box out on one of their late-game possessions and then Jenkins hit a long three at the end of the shot clock."

Huray would convert a layup with 63 seconds left, but then Bethany Dorrington and Jenkins combined to make all six free throws as Marian was forced to foul to extend the game.

"We continue to play hard," Peters said. "Eventually, we will be rewarded for that."

Jenkins entered the game leading the Spartans in scoring and did so again tonight with a team-high 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Anna Roszkowski added 15 points, while Dorrington chipped in 12. Aurora used just two reserves as all seven players logged at least 16 minutes of action.

Aurora shot 44.9 percent (22-for-49) from the field, including 4-of-17 from three-point range and 17-of-19 from the free throw line. The Spartans out-rebounded the Sabres 31-26 and held a 28-12 advantage in points in the paint.

Marian will be back in action Saturday, Jan. 18, when it heads back to Illinois for a 7:15 p.m. tip-off against Benedictine University inside the Rice Center in Lisle. Live stats and video links will be provided by the Eagles.