March 13, 2007

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Indiana Wesleyan and College of the Ozarks (Mo.) both advanced to the finals of the 16^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa, but in very different ways. Indiana Wesleyan cruised over Cedarville (Ohio), putting on a shooting display en route to a 93-56 victory. Ozarks on the other hand came out on top in a back-and-forth contest, pulling away for an 80-68 win.

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.

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.

 

In the final game of the night, MidAmerica (33-3) jumped out to a 6-0 lead two minutes into the game, scoring on their three of their first four possessions. Ozarks (34-2) countered with a 9-2 run of their own to take their first lead of the game, 9-8.

In the second half MidAmerica started like the Bobcats had finished the first half, going on an 8-0 run over the opening four and a half minutes to regain the lead, 38-37. The squads continued to trade leads over the next six minutes, with the Lady Pioneers cushion growing to three on a pair of occasions.

 

With Ozarks trailing by one, 47-46, Janessa DeMuth buried a three on the left wing and was fouled for the Bobcasts. DeMuth made the free throw to convert the rare four-point play. The Lady Pioneers never led from that point on, as the Bobcats lead swelled to as many as 15.

 

Ozarks went 32-of-42 from the charity stripe, including 10-of-14 in the final 3:43 of the game.

DeMuth paced the Bobcats with a double double, scoring 24 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Lindsy Murray gave Ozarks quality minutes off the bench, scoring 17 points. Kayli Combs chipped in with 15.

The Bobcats will take on undefeated Indiana Wesleyan in the championship game which can be seen live on CSTV at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13. 

 

First Round, Wednesday, March 7

No. 4 Tabor (Kan.) def. No. 5 Cardinal Stritch (Wisc.), 46-41

No. 3 William Jewell (Mo.) def. No. 6 Cornerstone (Mich.), 73-64

No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan vs. No. 8 Saint Joseph (Vt.), 69-25

No. 1 Cedarville (Ohio) def. No. 8 Union (Ky.), 86-63

No. 2 Hastings (Neb.) def. No. 7 Eastern Oregon, 74-47

No. 6 Taylor (Ind.) def. No. 3 Dakota State (S.D.) , 67-56

No. 4 Morningside (Iowa) def. No. 5 Davenport (Mich.), 79-69

No. 7 Iowa Wesleyan def. No. 2 Menlo (Calif.), 63-50

 

First Round, Thursday, March 8

No. 3 Ottawa (Kan.) def. No. 6 Saint Ambrose (Iowa), 67-57

No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) def. No. 7 Geneva (Pa.), 86-64

No. 1 Saint Francis (Ind.) def. No. 8 Trinity Christian (Ill.), 75-51

No. 5 Mount Marty (S.D.) def. No. 4 Bryan (Tenn.), 63-49

No. 1 Ozarks (Mo.) def. No. 8 Edward Waters (Fla.), 74-55

No. 2 Bethel (Ind.) def. No. 7 Berea (Ky.), 98-86

No. 4 Northwestern (Iowa) def. No. 5 Daemen (N.Y.), 98-69

No. 3 Sterling (Kan.) def. No. 6 Corban (Ore.), 80-70

 

Second Round, Friday, March 9

No. 2 Hastings (Neb.) def. No. 3 William Jewell (Mo.), 57-46

No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene def. No. 3 Ottawa (Kan.), 82-78

No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 4 Tabor (Kan.), 61-44

No. 1 Saint Francis (Ind.) def. No. 5 Mount Marty (S.D.), 63-46

No. 6 Taylor (Ind.) def. No. 7 Iowa Wesleyan, 67-61

No. 1 Ozarks (Mo.) def. No. 4 Northwestern (Iowa), 88-82 (OT)

No. 1 Cedarville (Ohio) def. No. 4 Morningside (Iowa), 95-79

No. 2 Bethel (Ind.) def. No. 3 Sterling (Kan.), 89-58

 

Quarterfinals, Saturday, March 10

No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 2 Hastings (Neb.), 61-52

No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene def. No. 1 Saint Francis (Ind.), 79-71

No. 1 Cedarville (Ohio) def. No. 6 Taylor (Ind.), 64-55.

No. 1 Ozarks (Mo.) def. No. 2 Bethel (Ind.), 87-75

 

Semifinals, Monday, March 12

No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan def. No. 1 Cedarville (Ohio), 93-56

No. 1 Ozarks (Mo.) def. No. 2 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.), 80-68

 

Championship (CSTV), Tuesday, March 13

No. 1 Indiana Wesleyan vs. No. 1 Ozarks (Mo.), 6:30 p.m.