BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — Olivet Nazarene University fell to the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) (9-0), 92-81, at McHie Arena, despite forcing 26 turnovers and scoring 20 points off those opportunities.

The game opened with Saint Francis taking an early lead, reaching a 9–0 advantage by 7:28. The Tigers responded with a crucial sequence, beginning with Lindsey Nell's layup at 5:02, followed by Preslee Michael's three-pointer at 4:29. This sparked a comeback, as the hosts tied the game at 13–13 with 2:47 left, thanks to a 3-pointer by Nell. Buzzard added two free throws at 1:44, establishing a lead the squad maintained till the end of the quarter. The home team closed the first quarter ahead, 20–17.

The Tigers maintained a narrow lead in a back-and-forth exchange during the second quarter. Calee Biedron's layup at 9:53 extended their advantage to five points, the largest of the period for the home team. Despite Saint Francis briefly taking a four-point lead at 4:17, the squad regained momentum through Lindsey Nell's free throws at 0:58, securing a one-point edge. The quarter concluded with the teams tied at 38, setting up a critical second half.

The Tigers seized control in the third quarter with a significant momentum shift, highlighted by Preslee Michael's fastbreak 3-pointer at 5:26, giving the home team a 49–47 lead. Grace Bush further cemented their advantage with a crucial 3-pointer at 0:47, assisted by Nell, putting them ahead 57–56. The quarter concluded with Olivet leading 57–56, having outscored the visitors 19–18 in the quarter.

The Tigers made a late push in the fourth quarter with significant contributions from beyond the arc, including a three-pointer from Michael at 5:46 that narrowed the gap to 71–64. Mya Skelton added a three-pointer at 5:25, further cutting into the deficit, and a subsequent steal led to another three-pointer by Ava Mikesell just seconds later, bringing the score to 73–70. Despite their efforts, the team faced challenges defensively, allowing the visitors to pull away with a series of layups and free throws, culminating in a 92–81 victory for the visitors. The game concluded with the Cougars maintaining control as the Tigers' attempts to close the gap fell short in the final minutes.

Michael led the team with 15 points, converting five 3-pointers from eight attempts. Nell added 13 points and dished out four assists, while also making six of seven free throws. Brooklyn Marshall contributed 10 points by hitting five of seven shots from the field. Bush recorded three steals and scored six points, including a three-pointer.

The Tigers hold a 5-4 overall record, while the Cougars remain undefeated at 9-0 this season.

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