Game Information
Score: Keiser 58, Marian 53
Records: Keiser (8-5), No. 5 Marian (12-3)
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla.
Keiser Starters: Reque (G), Patton (G), Cole (G), Shephard (F), Winbush (F)
Marian Starters: Almeida (G), Soerio (G), Kirkhoff (G), Sullivan (F), Kirby (F)
 
Keiser Highlights

• Keiser outshot No. 5 Marian, .382-.302, en route to a five-point upset over the defending national champions, 58-53.
• Princess Cole led all scorers with 17 points, notching a career-high in the process.
• Jamilla Banks Wall recorded a season-high eight points, grabbing eight rebounds in the process to lead the squad in total boards.

 
Turning Point
The Seahawks' ability to knock down clutch free throws down the stretch proved to be the turning point in today's contest. Despite running out to a 13-point advantage, Keiser found itself leading by just one with 55 seconds left in the contest. Cole and Patton buried four free throws in the final minute to seal the upset-victory over the Knights.
 
How it Happened

• Keiser led 36-28 at the half, marking the second consecutive season that the Seahawks have led Marian at the break.
• Joana Soeiro started the game off with a triple for the Knights before Princess Cole netted back-to-back layups to give the Seahawks a brief 4-3 advantage.
• The remainder of the quarter would play out with neither team able to take a clear advantage, despite Marian claiming a four-point lead.
• Trailing 11-7, Miah Shephard knocked home a triple followed by back-to-back free throws by Kaylee Patton to provide Keiser with a 12-11 lead.
• Keiser claimed a four-point advantage of its own but could not maintain the lead as the Knights tied the game at 17 apiece to conclude the first quarter.
• Marian claimed the 19-17 advantage after consecutive free throws by Rachel Titzer.
• The Knights stretched their lead to four on two separate occasions through the first five minutes of the second quarter but could not maintain the lead as the Seahawks evened the game each time.
• With the contest notched at 25-25, the Seahawks raced to a 7-0 run in which Claudia Reque and Jamilla Banks Wall combined for each of the seven points.
• Kellie Kirkhoff prevented the Seahawks from running away with the game, burying a corner triple to cut the Keiser lead to 32-28.
• Keiser ended the half on a 4-0 run after layups by Dominique Winbush and Banks Wall, providing the Seahawks with a 36-28 halftime advantage.
• The Seahawks held on to the momentum to open the third quarter, maintaining a multiple-possession lead for the quarter.
• The Knights clawed to as close as five points but Keiser later stretched its lead to double digits following a three pointer and a free throw by Caity Riley with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
• Patton drained a pair of free throws to provide the Seahawks with a 50-39 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
• With Keiser leading 50-40 in the final quarter with 9:50 remaining, Marian went on a 9-2 run to trim the Seahawks' lead to just three with 3:25 to play, setting up the dramatic finish.
• The Knights rallied back into the contest as Kirkhoff buried her fourth three pointer of the game with 55 seconds left to cut the Seahawks lead to 54-53.
• Marian had the chance to take the late lead but Kirkhoff's pass was intercepted by Patton, eventually leading to free throws for Cole following the intentional foul.
• The transfer junior netted one of her two free throws to extend the Keiser lead to 55-53 with 18 seconds left to play.
• The Knights had multiple opportunities to tie the contest but Cole came down with a critical rebound with six seconds left that placed her on the charity stripe where she doubled the Keiser lead to four.
• Patton put the icing on the cake, knocking down one of her final two free throws to solidify the 58-53 victory.

 
Team Leaders
Keiser
Points: Cole (17)
Rebounds: Banks Wall/Long (8)
Assists: Reque/Shephard/Long (2)
 
Marian
Points: Kirkhoff (16)
Rebounds: Soeiro (5)
Assists: Soeiro (5)
 
Inside the Box Score

• The Seahawks never trailed the Knights in the second half as Keiser led for the final 24:20 of the contest.
• The Seahawks improve to 1-4 against ranked opponents on the season following the five-point upset.
• The Seahawks dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Knights by the total count of 45-32, pulling down as many defensive rebounds as total Marian boards.
• The Seahawks scored 16 second chance points, yielding just seven to Marian.

 
Ties: 5
Lead Changes: 7
Largest Lead: Keiser (13), Marian (4)
 
Up Next
Keiser will not return to action until Dec. 29 when the Seahawks take on NCAA Division III Anna Maria at 7 p.m. to begin the Keiser New Year's Classic. Keiser will then take on Shawnee State at 7 p.m. on Dec. 30.