March 8, 2007

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - A solid first-half performance propelled No. 5 seed Mount Marty (S.D.) past No. 4 seed Bryan College (Tenn.), 63-49, in the first round of the16^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Mount Marty Lancers (23-8) had only one conventional field goal in the first half, but drained seven shots from behind the arc (46.7 percent) along with nine free throws en route to a 32-15 lead at intermission.

Bryan (25-8) was not as fortunate from long range in the first frame, going 0-for-12. In fact, the Lady Lions went the entire game without connecting from three-point range, finishing 0-for-20.

In the second half Bryan offense found a rhythm as they shot 43.3 percent from the field. The Lady Lions out-scored the Lancers in the second half, 34-30, but the early lead was too much to overcome.

Mount Marty shot equally as well in the second half (41.9 percent) to keep the Lady Lions at bay. The Lancers finished the game with eight threes as a team and won the battle on the boards 39-35.

The duo of Carrie Ahlers and Michelle Amundson paced the Lancers with 12 points each. Ten different Mount Marty players scored, including Natasha Swier (9) and Stacey Lickteig (7).

Sarah Coffman of Bryan took game-high honors with 19 points. She also added eight rebounds. Jessica Colvin was the only other Lady Lion in double figures with 11.

Mount Marty will take on Saint Francis in the second round on Friday at 2:15 p.m.

For more information on the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship visit www.naia.org.