WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The No. 24-ranked Marian University women's basketball team dominated the Lancers of Grace College, 71-46, in a key MCC showdown at the Orthopaedic Capital Center in Winona Lake, Ind., on Wednesday night. The victory was marked by physical play and great team defense.

The win pushed the Knights to a 15-8 overall record and improved their record to 7-3 in MCC play.

Senior Molly Lauck (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) led the way for the Knights with her third double-double of the season and fourth of her career. She tallied 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting and hauled down a game-high 12 boards, including four on the offensive end.

Lauck got things started for MU by making her first two shots of the game, with the second coming off a Lancer turnover. The Lancers would turn the ball over 14 times in the half, leading to six Knights points. Senior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) also came up big for the Knights in the first half with a team-high nine points, and three assists. MU's largest lead of the half came at the 1:11 mark when sophomore Emily Smithson (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) scored a layup on the break to extend the Knights' lead to 14 at 35-21. Smithson had six points and four assists in the half. The team would take a 35-22 lead into the locker room at half.

The Knights controlled the paint in the second half and finished the game with 40 points in the paint to Grace's 20, and grabbed 39 boards including 11 offensive rebounds. With 10:19 left in the game Smithson hit a jumper from inside the paint to push the lead to 20 at 55-35, and the Knights' lead would not drop below 20 for the remainder of the game.

Lauck started a four-point MU run with 2:56 left in the game to give the Knights a 27-point lead at 71-44. It was their largest lead of the game. The Lancers scored the final two points as the Knights were able to cruise to the 71-46 win.

Smithson finished the game with a team-high 15 points and a game-high six assists, while Egenolf chipped in 11 points and four boards. Sophomore Rachel Kenney (Mooresville, Ind./Mooresville) was also in double digits with 10 points and dished out four assists.

The No. 24 Knights return to the Physical Education Center on Saturday as they battle the No. 14-ranked University of Saint Francis. Follow LIVE STATISTICS and LISTEN LIVE at www.muknights.com. Tip is slated for 1 p.m.