March 12, 2007

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Indiana Wesleyan left no doubt why they are undefeated as they downed Cedarville (Ohio), 93-56, to advance to the championship game of the 16^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

Indiana Wesleyan (37-0) scored on their first five possessions, including back-to-back threes to open the game by Sarah McGill and Stephanie Culp, as they opened up a 12-2 advantage three minutes into the game.

 

The Wildcats continued to shoot extremely well from the field throughout the half hitting 75.0 percent of their shots (21-of-28) in the opening frame, including five from beyond the arc. Sarah McGill had a huge first half, scoring 21 of her game high 31 points.

 

Cedarville (27-7) shot well from the field themselves in the first half, converting 40.0 percent of the time, but the hot shooting by the Wildcats was too much to overcome.

Indiana Wesleyan did cool down, but still shot 51.5 percent, and finished the night an impressive 62.3 percent from the floor (38-of-61).

Three players were in double digits for Indiana Wesleyan, led by McGill with 31 points. Liz Howerth chipped in with 15 points while Lisa Thompson added 12 points. In all, 10 different players scored for the Wildcats. Howerth now is No. 9 on the all-time tournament scoring charts.

 

Brittany Smart of Cedarville, the all-time leading scorer in tournament history, finished the game with 30 points. Smart wrapped up her tournament career with 405 total points, 138 field goals made and 102 free throws made, all tournament records. She is also tied for second most rebounds in a tournament career with 130.

With the win Indiana Wesleyan is now tied for the most victories in a season by a team NAIA Women's Division II team. The other team to accomplish the feat was Claflin (S.C.) in 1987-88.

It will be the first appearance for Indiana Wesleyan in the championship game. They will take on the winner of the College of the Ozarks vs. MidAmerica Nazarene game.

 

The championship game can be seen live on CSTV at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13.

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