March 10, 2006

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - In the closest game so far in round two the Lady Bobcats of the College of the Ozarks (Mo.) defeated the Aquinas College (Mich.) Saints, 83-75, Friday in the second round 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.

Allison Rader had eight of Ozarks' first 13 points as they built a 15-5 lead midway through the first half. Aquinas countered with a 15-4 run to take a one-point advantage two and a half minutes later, 20-19.

In a back and forth first half the Saints stretched their lead to as many as seven. The momentum changed late in the half and the Lady Bobcats scored the final four points of the half to take a 45-41 lead into the locker room at intermission. Ozarks was a perfect 14 of 14 at the charity strip in the opening frame.

Ozarks seemed to have things in hand in the second half, opening up a 14-point lead with 10:03 remaining in the game. Aquinas wouldn't bow out of the tournament quietly, pulling to within one at the 4:11 mark behind the play of Whitney Marsh and Jackie Braspenninx. Marsh led all scorers with 26 points.

Megan Curry put the game out of reach as she buried a three with 45 tics left on the clock to put the Lady Bobcats up by five. She finished with 18 points, going 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. Ozarks had five players in double figures. Cara Painter led the way with 24 points and eight rebounds. Janessa DeMuth chipped in with 15 points while Allison Rader had 10.

In addition to Marsh's 26 points, she was 4 of 5 from downtown, the Saints got 17 from Braspenninx, 12 from Ashley Heuvelman and Jackie Prins added 10 points. Heuvelman also had 11 rebounds for a double-double.

College of the Ozarks will play in the quarterfinals for third time in school history. Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. against the winner of Benedictine College (Kan.) and Doane College (Neb.).

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

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