BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team hosted the No. 16 Saint Xavier University Cougars at McHie Arena on Tuesday night.  The Tigers handed the Cougars their first conference loss of the season, 65-60. 

The Tigers got off to a slow start as they did not mark a point in the first five minutes of the game and were trailing 9-0.  Alayha Allen and Kennedy Johnson got the offensive production started for the Tigers scoring the first six points but still were behind, 11-6. With three minutes left in the first quarter, Anne Peters hit a three-ball and Johnson laid one up-and-in to make the score, 13-11.  The Tigers found themselves trailing, 15-13, going into the second quarter. 

Khendel Rolison tied the game, at 15, in the opening minute of the second quarter.  After a pair of free throws, Karina Smits drained back-to-back threes and pulled the Tigers out ahead, 21-17.  After the Cougars closed the gap to one, the Tigers saw an 11-3 run to take a 32-23 lead.  During that stretch, Peters and Zanna Myers both buried threes. 

The Cougars closed the first half on an 8-2 run, but the Tigers took a 33-31 lead going into the half.  The Tigers forced 13 Cougar turnovers and Johnson led the team with 10 points. 

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 33, No. 16 Saint Xavier 31

In the start of the third quarter, The Cougars came out of the break on a 8-1 run until Oliva Demosthenes knocked down a layup making the score, 39-36, Cougars.  Saint Xavier continued to hold serve and led by as much as five with 2:10 left.  Demosthenes then buried a three to cut the lead to 45-43. The Tigers then saw baskets by Johnson and Smits in the final minute as they took a slim, 48-47, lead going into the final stanza. 

The Cougars scored the first four points of the quarter until Avery Curry made a three making the score 51 all.  The majority of the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair as neither lead was as high as four.  With a little under three minutes left, the Tigers took control of the ball game and did not allow any Cougar offense. 

Demosthenes, Johnson, and Caroline Boehne all marked points down the stretch as the Tigers knocked off their third ranked opponent of the season, 65-60. 

GAME VITALS

Final: Olivet Nazarene 65, No. 16 Saint Xavier 60

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 6-3 (4-1 CCAC) | No. 16 Saint Xavier: 8-3 (6-1 CCAC)

Location: McHie Arena | Olivet Nazarene University | Bourbonnais, Ill.

QUICK HITS

• Johnson led the way for the Tigers with 20 points and added a pair of assists and four boards. 
• Demosthenes followed with 11 points. 
• Myers led the Tigers with four steals and Boehne led the Tigers with six rebounds. 
• The Tigers had 18 points off 23 Cougar turnovers. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers travel out of conference to Winona Lakes, Ind. to face the Lancers of Grace College on Thursday, December 9 at 6 p.m.

--ONU—

*Contact: Sam Viebrock, Sports Information Director, stviebrock@olivet.edu