March 13, 2008

SIOUX CITY, Iowa. - No. 3 seed Benedictine College (Kan.) advanced to the second round with a 79-57 victory over sixth seed Aquinas (Mich.) during the opening round of the17^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

 

Benedictine (26-5) shot 44 percent from the field in the opening half en route to a 43-29 lead at the break. The Ravens of Benedictine had just one turnover in the first half and finished the game with just six in all.

For the Saints of Aquinas it marks their first loss in seven games, as they went on a run to win the Wolverine-Hoosier tournament title. Aquinas was out shot in the game getting up just 57 attempts compared to 73 for Benedictine. Benedictine also converted at a higher clip, converting 42.5 percent of the time while the Saints hit 40.4 percent.

Benedictine led the game from start to finish, opening the game on a 11 to two run. The lead was cut to a bucket on two occasions, but eventually the Ravens just pulled away down the stretch.

Abby Winder led three players in double digits for Benedictine with 18 points. Leah Stuhlsatz chipped in with 17 and Courtney Edmonds had 11. Edmonds was 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.

Aquinas had just one player in double figures, Alicia McCarthy, who finished with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. The next highest scorer was Courtney Banks with eight.

Benedictine advances to the second-round game at 2:15 p.m., Friday and will face either Hastings (Neb.) or King (Tenn.).