EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Marian University women's cross country team earned its first title of the season as the Knights won the small college division at the 2009 Evansville Invitational in Evansville, Ind., on Saturday.

Junior Adrienne Shepherd (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo) led the Knights with a third-place finish in the small college division and a 47th-place finish overall after she ran a time of 21:08.61.

Junior Emily Miller (Eaton, Ind./Delta) earned a fifth-place finish in the small college division and a 55th-place finish overall with a time of 21:27.98. Senior Brooke Meier (Brookville, Ind./Oldenburg Academy) finished in sixth place in the small college division and 60th overall with a time of 21:45.56.

Sophomore Audra Gehlhausen (Bristow, Ind./Perry Central) finished in 14th place in the small college division and 86th overall with a time of 22:51.71, while sophomore Laura Neuman (Rushville, Ind./Rushville) finished right behind her in 15th place and 90th place overall with a time of 23:08.43.

Senior Jill Kuntz (Batesville, Ind./Oldenburg Academy) finished 23rd in the small college division and 102nd overall with a time of 24:40.14, while freshman Brittany Gillespie (Lawrenceburg, Ind./Lawrenceburg) finished in 26th and 105th overall with a time of 24:56.79. Sophomore Marisela Garcia (Anderson, Ind./Guerin Catholic) finished in 28th and 107th overall with a time of 25:42.67, while freshman Lauren Kissel (Edgewood, Ky./Saint Henry) finished in a time of 27:11.94.

Freshman Ashlee Maupin (Batesville, Ind./Batesville) ran unattached and notched the top time for non-award athletes with a time of 21:45.13.

The Knights head to the Southeast Classic on Saturday in Louisville, Ky.