INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian University women's basketball team picked up its second-straight Mid-Central College Conference victory as it defeated the Cougars of Spring Arbor University, 61-40, on Saturday evening at the Physical Education Center. The Knights are now 7-2 on the season and 2-1 in league play, while the Cougars fell to 3-7 overall and 1-2 in the MCC.

Junior Adrienne Sahm led the Knights as she picked up her first double-double of the season with 10 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Junior Rachel Turk and freshman Faith Reece were also in double figures with 10 points each. Turk also recorded a game-high four blocked shots in the victory.

MU shot 41 percent (24-of-58) from the field and held the Cougars to just 23 percent (14-of-60). The Knights also out-rebounded SAU by a 54-33 margin.

The contest started rather slowly for both teams as the first bucket didn't come until the 16:21 mark when junior Whitley Emerson made the first of two free-throws for the 1-0 Knight lead. It was MU that struck again, just under a minute later, when Sahm hit a jumper to put the Knights ahead, by a 3-0 margin.

The teams would trade baskets over the next 2:50, but it was the Knights that got hot with 8:43 remaining in the half as Emerson hit again from inside the paint and sparked a 7-0 run to give the Knights an 11-point lead, 17-6. SAU was able to bring it to a seven-point margin with 4:49 to play in the opening half, but the Knights offense struck again to close the half out with a 9-4 run and a 26-14 lead at the break.

To start the second half, the Cougars came out and hit a three just 29 seconds in to bring the lead back to single-digits, but the Knights were able to extend their lead to 15, 35-20, at the 15:40 mark.

It was all MU for the rest of the contest as the 37-24 lead at the 14:04 mark was the last time the Knights saw their lead slip to under 15 points. With 2:21 to play in the contest, MU had its largest lead of 24 after a jumper from Reece brought the score to 60-36 with 2:21 to go, and the Knights cruised to the 61-40 victory.

MU is back in action on Friday when they travel to the Crimson Wave Holiday Invitational in Whiting, Ind. On Friday, the Knights take on IU-South Bend at 6 p.m.