Marian Outlasts Dakota Wesleyan 62-54 to Advance to NAIA National Championship Game

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Marian women's basketball team completed a wire-to-wire victory on Monday night in the NAIA National Semifinal game, getting key stops and makes from their seniors in the fourth quarter to cap a 62-54 victory over No. 2 seed Dakota Wesleyan. Marian's victory over the Tigers in the semifinals advances them to the NAIA National Championship game for the first time since 2017, as the Knights will carry a 34-2 record into the final game of the season. 

Marian couldn't have asked for a better start on Monday night, getting their semifinal outing off to a commanding 7-0 start. Abbey McNally won the opening tip and scored 12 seconds into play, igniting a run that saw her sister Kiley McNally sink her fifth three-pointer of the season. While the offense started on a high note, the defense matched the tone, denying the Tigers of any points in the first 3:33 of game play, holding Dakota Wesleyan to an 0-4 start from the field. The Tigers also missed their first two foul shots of the night, allowing Marian to add to their confidence on the defensive end.

The streak of missed shots would subside as Dakota Wesleyan was able to rattle in a contested look, but Marian continued to come up with offensive answers, as Madisyn Bailey and Olivia Faust each sank a first-quarter trifecta, keeping the Knights on the right side of the ledger. Abbey McNally scored with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter, putting Marian on top 15-6, which would stand as the score after 10 minutes, as a block from the senior went on to secure the nine-point edge.

The Knights continued to be the aggressors in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 4-2 in the first three minutes, pushing their edge to double figures. Marian would keep its double-digit lead throughout the majority of the period, not allowing Dakota Wesleyan to get closer than nine points. Abbey McNally and Madisyn Bailey were the run killers in the quarter, while a three-pointer from Zoe Wheeler with 1:40 to play in the half off a Bailey assist gave the Knights a 28-14 lead. The trifecta secured a lead of 11 going into the half, as Dakota Wesleyan would make the game a 28-17 score after converting a three-point play in the final minute.

The halftime break favored Dakota Wesleyan in the third quarter, as Marian was unable to extend the lead beyond 13 points. The Tigers scored first in the half and kept finding answers, even with Madisyn Bailey driving home a pair of layups. The McNally sisters were able to push Marian back to a 13-point lead after Avery Broughton narrowed the gap for the Tigers once more, but foul trouble would creep up for the first time in the tournament, as both twins would exit for the bench in the third quarter after each picking up their third foul. The absence of the twins allowed Dakota Wesleyan to gain momentum heading into the fourth quarter, as they overcame an Olivia Faust three-pointer and ended the quarter on an 8-2 run, cutting the game to a 42-34 affair.

Dakota Wesleyan stayed aggressive and continued to pressure Marian as the game entered the fourth quarter, as they extended the run to 11-2 after opening the quarter's scoring with a three-pointer. A pair of free throws with 6:27 remaining in the game saw Dakota Wesleyan get within three points, putting a true threat on Marian's lead for the first time since the opening minutes of the game.

Marian would stay collected after seeing its 14-point lead evaporate to three, and answered with a 6-0 swing, as Olivia Fuast drained a run-killing trifecta and Kenna Kirby completed a three-point play, pushing the Knights back in front by nine. The McNally sisters would score back-to-back layups to take the lead into double digits once more, but Dakota Wesleyan showed fight after the scores, forcing a pair of quick turnovers to make the game a 52-45 score. 

Marian showed resilience as its lead was cut, working their way back to the foul line after calling a timeout, where Madisyn Bailey was able to score three points in two possessions to secure a three-possession lead. Bailey's work came with 2:20 remaining in the contest, and from that moment, the Knights relied on their defense, forcing three consecutive misses before Kily McNally came away with a steal. The defense would force another missed shot before the Tigers cut the lead to six with 1:09 remaining, but the damage would not stop Marian, as they answered by expanding its 55-49 lead.

After calling a timeout in the final minute, the Knights set the ball for their All-American Abbey McNally, who drove the lane and beat the shot clock, converting a three-point play to close any comeback hopes for Dakota Wesleyan. Marian would sink four free throws in the final 30 seconds of play to seal the win, running into the national championship game with a 62-54 victory. 

Marian never trailed in the national semifinal game, and overcame a 34 percent shooting night from the floor as they forced 19 turnovers and limited Dakota Wesleyan to a 33 percent night shooting. Marian also closed the game out with an advantage at the foul line, making three more shots than the Tigers, while additionally knocking down three more three-point shots. 

Abbey McNally finished the game with her 65th career double-double, as she logged 16 points and 11 rebounds in the win. McNally also blocked two shots in the win for the Knights. Madisyn Bailey scored 15 points in the win, while also assisting on five shots and grabbing six rebounds. Olivia Faust finished the night with nine points, making three three-pointers, and Kenna Kirby finished with seven points and four steals in the win. 

For the second consecutive season, the Knights will match up against Dordt University, with the Knights and Defenders competing for the NAIA National Championship on Tuesday night. Tip-off from the Tyson Events Center is set for 8:00 p.m. ET.

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