UPLAND, Ind. - The No. 5-seeded Marian University women's basketball team used a strong defensive effort and timely shooting to knock off the No. 4-seeded Taylor University Trojans, 64-50, in the first round of the Mid-Central College Conference Tournament in Upland, Ind., on Tuesday night.

The Knights held Taylor to just 29 percent (16-of-56) shooting and senior Kristin Houck (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) notched her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds, both game-highs. She led three Knights in double figures as they held the potent Trojan offense to just 14 percent (2-of-14) shooting from three-point range.

The first 6:02 of the game was marked with defensive stops as the two teams combined for just 14 points as the Knights were able to take an 8-6 lead. After the Knights scored a bucket and Taylor hit a free throw, Marian went on an 8-0 run that spanned just 2:42 to open an 11-point lead at 18-7 with 8:49 remaining in the first half. Freshman Rachel Turk (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) scored six of the eight points during the run and senior Theresa Fairbrother (Danville, Ind./Danville) capped the run with a short jumper.

TU was able to cut the lead back to seven at 24-17 with 4:18 to go, but MU went on a 7-0 run to push the lead to 14 at 31-17 with just 1:46 to go in the frame. Turk scored four more points during the run and senior Megan Egenolf (Plainfield, Ind./Plainfield) completed the run with a three-pointer. TU was able to cut it back to nine at 31-22 at halftime, but the damage had been done.

Taylor was held to just 23 percent (6-of-26) shooting in the first half, while the Knights, led by Turk's 11-first half points, shot 40 percent (12-of-30) from the field.

The momentum MU had seized in the first half did not shift as the Knights were able to increase the lead to 15 at 39-24 over the first 2:36 of the second half. Every time it seemed the Trojans were going to go on a run, the Knights answered and would not let TU take the momentum back.

A momentary lapse on the defensive end allowed Taylor to close to within nine, 56-47, with 2:53 to go, but an 8-0 run over the next 2:05 pushed the lead to 17 at 64-47. The Trojans scored the last three points of the game, but the Knights had pulled the upset and picked up their first-ever win over Taylor University in post-season play.

The Knights dominated the boards as they tallied 55 rebounds, 18 on the offensive end, to just 33 for the Trojans.

Turk finished with 11 points and three steals, while sophomore Emily Smithson (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) notched 14 points and grabbed four rebounds. Houck scored nine of her points and grabbed nine of her rebounds in the second half. Fairbrother and Egenolf dished out four and three assists, respectively.

The fifth-seeded Knights now have a date with the No. 1-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats on Friday night in the MCC Tournament semifinals. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Luckey Arena in Marion, Ind. The game will air LIVE at www.muknights.com.