GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Olivet Nazarene University women's basketball team traveled to Fultz Memorial Gym for the opening game of the Firestorm Classic as they faced against the tournament host Arizona Christian University on Wednesday.  The Tigers were edged by the Firestorm, 93-88. 

Caroline Boehne and Khendel Rolison paced the scoring early on in the first quarter for the Tigers as they scored the first two field goals. Then, Maggie Cora, Anne Peters, and Karina Smits all buried threes and tied the game at 13 all.  With a minute left, the Firestorm were clinging to a one-point lead at 25-24, until Kennedy Johnson and Peters both made field goals to put the Tigers up 28-25 going into the second quarter. 

Smits, Jamie Finn, and Zanna Myers supplied the offense for the Tigers in the early minutes of the quarter as they combined for the first eight points.  Then, starting with a free throw by Kaitlyn Clark, the Tigers went on a 12-2 run making the score, 48-39, Tigers. The Firestorm closed the quarter with two field goals but the Tigers took a 54-49 lead going into the locker room. 

Halftime: Olivet Nazarene 54, Arizona Christian 49

Myers knocked down a three to start the scoring for the Tigers in the third quarter.  After Arizona Christian tied the game at 57, Cora and Smits combined four the next four tallies as the Tigers retook the lead at 61-57.  The Tigers then buried four three-pointers in the final four minutes of the quarter and took an 80-69 lead going into the final quarter. 

The Firestorm then cut into their 11-point deficit right away in the fourth quarter going on a 9-1 run which made the score 81-78.  Then, Myers buried her seventh three-ball of the game and gave the Tigers an 84-78 lead.  With four minutes left, Arizona Christian kept closing the gap on the Tigers going on a 9-0 run until Smits made a layup.  The two teams were deadlocked at 87. 

The Firestorm held the Tigers scoreless in the final minutes of the game as they hit 6-of-7 from the charity strikes as they defeated the Tigers, 93-88. 

GAME VITALS

Final: Arizona Christian 93, Olivet Nazarene 88

Records: Arizona Christian: 11-4 | Olivet Nazarene: 8-6

Location: Fultz Memorial Gym | Arizona Christian University | Glendale, Ariz.    

QUICK HITS

• Myers led the Tigers with 21 points with all of those points coming from behind the arc. 
• Cora, Smits, and Johnson followed with 15, 14, and 12 points, respectively.
• Boehne led the Tigers with 12 boards. 
• The Tigers forced 24 Firestorm turnovers and out rebounded them 27-18 on the offensive glass. 

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers wrap up play at the Firestorm Classic as they play the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Eagles on Thursday, December 30th at 3 p.m. CST. 

--ONU—

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