Courtney Simpson (Nappanee, IN/NorthWood) scored a team-high 17 points and pulled down ten rebounds, while Emily Strilich (Valparaiso, IN/Boone Grove) scored 15 points and Lizzie Stapke (Highland, IN/Highland) Nichole Sly (Niles, MI/Niles) each chipped in with 12, but it was not enough as IU South Bend (8-15, 0-4 CCAC) could not withstand a late 8-0 run as they fell 88-75 to Olivet Nazarene.

The Titans struck first, connecting on inside baskets on their first two possessions, the first by Stapke and the second by Simpson. After the teams traded scores, Olivet held just a one point lead at 7-6, before they went on a 9-0 spurt to open up a ten point lead. After nearly seven minutes of even play, the Titans were slowly able to edge closer, drawing to within four on three separate occasions down the stretch of the first half, but never getting any closer and finding themselves down 43-36 at the half.

Out of the break, the Titans hung tough, eventually tying the game at 53 with just more than 12 minutes to play. ONU would open up a lead again to four, but once again, IU South Bend answered, this time getting a triple from Sly to cut the margin to just one with 7:45 to play. The Tigers had a response, though, going on a quick 8-0 burst to take their lead back up to nine, and they would extend it to ten just a minute later.

The Titans would not go away, however, kicking off a 9-0 run of their own. Elyse Lefebvre (Pinckney, MI/Pinckney) scooped in a reverse lay-up, followed by a short jumper from Strilich to cut the lead to six. Strilich scored again a minute later to trim the margin to four and Ashley Carson (Winchester, TN/Franklin County) followed with a triple on the next possession to pull IU South Bend to within one at 74-73, this time with just 3:57 to play.

From there, the Titans went cold. allowing the Tigers to slowly edge away for the final margin.

Stapke finished the game with nine rebounds for the Titans, while Sly handed out five assists. With her 12 points in the game, Stapke moved to 988 for her career, just a dozen shy of becoming the 11th member of the 1,000-point club for a career.

The Titans return to action on Saturday, February 4, when they travel to Joliet, IL to take on St. Francis. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 PM (EST).