GLENDALE, Ariz. — Olivet Nazarene (IL) (9-4) defeated Arizona Christian (AZ) (3-10), 89-74, capitalizing on 22 steals to secure the road victory. The Tigers sealed the win with a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter, holding the Firestorm to just nine points in the final quarter.

The Tigers began the game with a strong offensive push, highlighted by Jayden Flagg's two 3-pointers, helping them establish an early lead. A significant moment came at 5:40 when Lindsey Nell converted a pair of free throws, extending their advantage to 14–4. Despite Arizona Christian closing the gap slightly near the end of the quarter, the Tigers maintained control, leading 26–20 at the end of the first quarter.

Olivet Nazarene faced a challenging second quarter as they saw an early six-point lead at 9:57 evaporate under pressure from the Firestorm. Despite an initial push, highlighted by Caroline Sikkink's layup at 8:35, the Tigers struggled to maintain momentum. Arizona Christian capitalized on this, establishing a significant 11-point lead by 1:54, a margin Olivet Nazarene could not overcome by the quarter's end. The quarter concluded with the Tigers trailing 47-43.

The Tigers sparked a late comeback in the third quarter, highlighted by Preslee Michael's decisive 3-pointer with just four seconds remaining to take a 66-65 lead over the Firestorm. The quarter included a significant push as Olivet Nazarene forced multiple turnovers, converting them into points with contributions from Nell, who added two critical free throws at 41 seconds to narrow the gap. Despite Arizona Christian's earlier 10-point lead at 8:10, the Tigers' defensive pressure and timely scoring allowed them to outscore their opponents 23-18 in the quarter.

Olivet Nazarene secured a decisive victory in the fourth quarter, extending their lead with a 23-point performance. A critical moment came early with Ava Mikesell's steal that led to Nell's jumper at 9:15, boosting their momentum. Flagg's three-pointer at 7:56 further widened the gap, and Michael's three-pointer at 3:42 solidified their control. The Tigers capitalized on turnovers, forcing six from the Firestorm, and maintained a strong defensive stance. They closed the game with a 15-point lead, concluding with a final score of 89–74.

Flagg led the team with 23 points, converting 7 of 10 from beyond the arc and contributing three steals. Nell added 15 points and secured four steals while also going 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Mikesell contributed across the board with five points, five steals, and five assists, in addition to collecting five offensive rebounds. Michael recorded a double-double, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Olivet Nazarene improved to 9-4 overall with their victory. Arizona Christian fell to 3-10 on the season.

–ONU–