March 10, 2006

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Benedictine College (Kan.) moved into the quarterfinals defeating Doane College (Neb.) on a last-second shot in the final game, Friday night 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.

Every second was needed in a game that featured seven ties and nine lead changes. Angeline Finazzo buried a three-point field goal off the left wing as time expired to give Benedictine win 56-55. After trailing in the first half by as many six, the Lady Ravens battled back to control the majority of the second frame.

Doane was able to take a two-point cushion, 28-27, into the locker room at intermission behind 10 points from Marti Blecha and eight from Ashley Sullwold. The Tigers also won the battle on the boards in the first frame, out-rebounding Benedictine 23-16.

Benedictine came out hot from beyond the arc in the second half, hitting five long-range field goals before hitting a conventional two-point field goal. The run of triples gave them a nine-point advantage with 13:58 remaining. But Doane chipped away as the game wore on, taking a 51-50 lead on an Ashley Howard bucket. The Tigers stretched the lead to three before the Lady Ravens knotted things up with 34 tics left.

After a timeout, Doane's Lindsay Anderson found Alissa Holland in the paint to vault the Tigers back into the lead with eight seconds remaining. Benedictine called time, and setup what proved to be the game winning three by Finazzo. She finished with 11 points, nine coming from beyond the arc, while Emily Smith added 13 for the Lady Ravens.

Doane was led by the duo of Ashley Holland and Blecha who finished with 15 points each. This was the seventh tournament appearance for the Tigers who finished the year with a record of 25-7.

Benedictine, in their fourth appearance, will play in the quarterfinals for the on Saturday.  The Ravens will play College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (31-1) in the 8:00PM game. 

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

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