The Marian University women’s basketball team held off a determined Lawrence University squad and posted a 63-55 nonconference victory Monday night at Alexander Gymnasium.
Alexis Becker and Brooke Haen scored 15 points apiece to pace Marian (2-1). Elizabeth Zutz added 12 points and pulled down a team-best eight rebounds for the Sabres.
Nakita Chadwick posted her first career double-double to pace Lawrence (0-2). Chadwick had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Vikings. She hit on 4 of 5 shots from the floor and was 3-for-4 from the foul line. Cory Paquette led the Vikings with 13 points and Kanesha Walker added 10 points for the Vikings.
The Sabres pulled away over the final six minutes of the first half with the help of their long-range shooting. Marian hit 9 of 35 from 3-point range.
The Sabres led 22-17 before Marian hit three 3-pointers as part of a 13-4 run. Haen’s layup with 43 seconds left in the first half gave Marian a 35-21 lead. The Sabres led 35-24 at the break.
The Vikings turned up the heat defensively in the second half, forcing 10 Marian turnovers after the break, to get back into the game.
Lawrence was down by 11 when Paquette hit a 3-pointers and Alex Deshler, who had nine points and nine rebounds, followed with a layup. After a Chadwick free throw, the Vikings cut the lead to 43-38 with 14:09 left.
The Vikings were down 48-40 when Dani Huray hit a 3-pointer for the Sabres and Zutz followed with a layup to push the lead to 53-40. Lawrence never got closer than seven points after that.
The Vikings return to action on Friday when they host Illinois College.