Olivet Nazarene opens tourney with impressive effort

The NAIA Division II women's team from Olivet Nazarene University (Bourbonnais, Ill.) got off to a great start in its own Holiday Inn Express Classic, thanks in large part to Liz Bart. The senior from Cary, Ill., made 10 3-pointers and scored 33 points to lead the Tigers past Mid-Continent University 133-92 Friday night.

This is the second time this season that ONU has scored at least 133 points; on Nov. 5, it beat Lindenwood University 138-118.

all System stats from this one were impressive for the Tigers (3-4):

• Attempted 112 shots
• Attempted 71 3-pointers
• Rebounded 44 percent of their own misses
• Forced 39 turnovers
• Attempted 41 more shots that Mid-Continent

Miranda Geever added 21 points, dropped 11 dimes and finished with four of ONU's 26  steals. Others score in double figures were Jessica Gerig (15 points), Jayne Stuart (13) and Taylor Haymes (11).

The Tigers hosts Huntington University on Saturday in the finale of the tournament, with tip scheduled for 4 p.m.  EST at McHie Arena. Best of luck to Coach Lauren Stamatis and her team.