CANTON, Ohio - The Marian University women's basketball team had a daunting task on Friday night as it opened the 2009-10 season against NAIA Preseason No. 5-ranked Shawnee State University at the Walsh University Classic in Canton, Ohio.

The Knights closed to within three points of the Bears, who finished 2008-09 with a 31-1 record, with 12:46 remaining in the game, but the turnover bug bit the Knights as the Bears pulled away for a 64-51 victory.

With the score 4-3 early on, SSU used a 15-4 run to open a 12-point lead, 19-7, with 8:40 to go in the first half. The Knights responded by using a 13-2 run of their own to cut the lead to one, 21-20, with 4:42 remaining in the frame, but SSU was able to pull away with a 12-2 run to close the half with an 11-point lead, 33-22.

The Knights shot 45 percent (9-for-20) from the field in the first half and held the Bears to 36 percent (13-for-36). However, they committed 22 turnovers that resulted in 17 SSU points after 20 minutes.

SSU opened the second half quickly as they opened by outscoring the Knights 7-2 over the first 2:07 to take a 16-point lead, 40-24. The Knights used a 15-2 run over the next five minutes to close the lead to three, 42-39, with 12:46 to go in the game. It was at this point that the turnover bug bit down on the Knights as they gave the ball back to SSU on the next four possessions and allowed the Bears to open an 11-point lead, 50-39, with 10:20 remaining.

A 6-1 run by the Knights cut the lead back to six, 51-45, with 6:46 to go. But, the Bears outscored the Knights, 13-6, over the final 6:46 to pick up the 13-point win, 64-51.

The Knights shot the ball well in the second half as they shot 44 percent (12-for-27) from the field and held the Bears to just 25 percent (9-for-36) for the half. But, they committed 12 more turnovers that resulted in 18 more SSU points. For the game, the Knights committed 36 turnovers that resulted in 35 SSU points. They were outscored 35-14 in points off turnovers over the 40 minutes.

Senior Molly Lauck (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) led the Knights after she had a career day. She tallied 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting, and she grabbed 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season.

Freshman Natalie Robinson (Wingate, Ind./Fountain Central) tallied 19 points on 7-for-17 shooting in her collegiate game, while senior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) tallied seven points and handed out a team-high four assists.

The Knights will turn around and face host Walsh University, which also received votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll, on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is slated for 4 p.m. from Alumni Arena in Canton, Ohio.