March 9, 2006

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Menlo College (Calif.) defeated Davenport University (Mich.) 45-43 in the final seconds of Thursday's first round game of the 15^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

Davenport scored first and opened up as much as a 12-point lead before taking a 25-17 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

Menlo outscored Davenport 15-5 to tie the game at 32 with 10:32 remaining in the second half. The teams battled back and forth and with 1:45 left on the clock the score remained tied at 41. Menlo's Kepua Lee knocked down two free throws to put the Oaks in front. Teammate Shannon Riley then sank both of a double-bonus free throw opportunity to widen the gap to four. Davenport squeezed in one final field goal, but it was not enough.

The Menlo Oaks out-rebounded Davenport 43-31, but committed 20 turnovers compared to Daveport's 12.  Lee led Menlo with 13 points and 8 rebounds. Menlo shot 40.9 percent from the field in the second half while Davenport hit on 31 percent. Menlo had an eight-point advantage over the Panthers, who went to the charity stripe only four times in the game.

Davenport's scoring leader was senior Jennifer Rausch with 15 points and five rebounds. Kristin Bergsma also was in double figures with a dozen.

Menlo continues their record-setting season with a win in their second appearance at the national tournament.  Menlo set school records this season for wins and winning percentage with a record of 24-3.

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

Box Score