Adrian downs Marietta 89-84 in season opener

MARIETTA, Ohio — Starnisha Harris hit a pair of free throws with eight seconds left in the game as Adrian College posted an 89-84 season-opening win over Marietta College Tuesday (Nov. 15) evening in Ban Johnson Arena.

The Pioneers trimmed a 12-point deficit down to three points, 87-84, when senior Jordanna Rauch drained her third trey of the night with 49 seconds on the clock. Marietta was forced to foul and the Bulldogs missed two from the charity stripe with 22 seconds remaining.

A costly turnover gave the ball back to Adrian and again forced the Pioneers to foul. This time Harris sunk both throws to ice the game.

Adrian scored the first three points of the game and never trailed. The Bulldogs led by as many as 15 points but couldn't shake the feisty Pioneers. MC managed to get within three points several times in the third and fourth quarters.

Sophomore Shay Lett led the Pioneers with 15 points off the bench. Rauch finished with 12 points and a career-high seven rebounds. Sophomore Corrie Burkhardt notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.

Freshmen Maddy Worden and Alexis Enochs both had a strong debut in the Navy Blue and White. Worden started at the point and had 10 points and four assists, while Enochs came off the bench to score 11 points.

Harris and Marissa Cotton led Adrian with 16 points apiece. Harris completed the double-double with a game-best 12 rebounds. Sadia Johnson and Shannon Garvey finished in double figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively.

For the game, Marietta was 27-of-59 (45.8%) from the floor, 9-of-19 (47.4%) from three-point range and 21-of-29 (72.4%) at the free throw line. Adrian shot 46.2% (30-of-65) from the floor, 28.6% (6-of-21) behind the arc and 62.2% (23-of-37) at the line.

Marietta travels to Anderson, Indiana this weekend for the Anderson University Tip-Off Tournament. The Pioneers open against Kenyon College on Friday (Nov. 18) at 8 p.m.