FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Wednesday evening, the University of Saint Francis Lady Cougars (14-8; 8-5 Crossroads) traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for a major challenge when they faced the No. 4 Marian University Knights (22-3; 14-1 Crossroads) and answered the call with a thrilling 65-64 victory.

The game started as a back-and-forth battle with neither side able to gain more than a two-point lead. After exchanging blows, the Lady Cougars went on to score six unanswered points sparked by a layup by junior forward Meleah Kunkel and capped by a couple free throws by Kunkel as Saint Francis took a 15-10 lead after the first quarter.

Heading into the second quarter, the Lady Cougars carried their momentum over, and played stellar defense not allowing the Knights to get an open shot.

Through the game's first 15 minutes, the Lady Cougars had allowed just 15 points to the Knights' resilient offense and kept answering on offense as they took a 32-21 lead into halftime.

Throughout the first half, the Lady Cougars held the Knights to a shooting percentage of just 37 from the floor.

As the third quarter got underway the Lady Cougars maintained their double-digit lead through the frame's first several minutes, at one point scoring nine unanswered points to go ahead by 19.

Although the Knights remained determined and closed the deficit to within nine points, Saint Francis answered back and closed the third quarter capped off by a three-pointer and a couple free throws by sophomore guard Reganne Pate to lead 55-41 heading to the fourth.

In the early minutes of the final frame, the Lady Cougars held steady, and kept their double-digit lead with five minutes remaining. Despite the relentless surge by the Knights, Saint Francis kept answering back.

But then Marian found momentum and scored seven unanswered points to get right back in the game, as Saint Francis now led 61-57 with three minutes remaining. The lead then dwindled to one point with two minutes remaining.

As the clock continued to tick down the neck-and-neck matchup continued. Down to one minute remaining, the Lady Cougars led 63-62. But then with 46 seconds left, a costly turnover gave the ball back to the Knights who then went ahead for the first time in the game at 64-63.

Down to their last breath, the Lady Cougars called one more timeout, and had one last play down by one with four seconds left. Junior forward Cassidy Crawford drove the ball through the lane and drew a shooting foul. She then sank both free throws.

The Lady Cougars regained the lead and made one last stop on defense to earn the win and pull off the upset. During the process they snapped Marian's perfect conference record at 14 games.

"That was an incredibly tough win," Head Coach Jason Ridge said. "Marian played through some foul trouble in the first half and we knew they weren't going to go away. We did a lot of really good things early and then had a tough time scoring. But I thought Meleah (Kunkel) did a really good job early in the game establishing an inside presence. We needed her to have a game like she had tonight and she really stepped up."

Throughout the game, the Lady Cougars shot 43 percent from the floor, 63 percent from beyond the three-point line, and 78 percent from the free throw line. Meleah Kunkel led the team in scoring with 21 points, in rebounds with seven, and in steals with two.

The Lady Cougars resume play on Saturday afternoon when they return home to Hutzell Athletic Center to play host to the Spring Arbor University Cougars (4-19; 1-10 Crossroads) beginning at 1:00 pm.