March 9, 2008

Box Score

 

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Brescia University put four players in double figures and completed a 37-point second half in a come-from-behind win over Park University, 66-62, in the NAIA Independent Region Women's Championship at Claflin University's Tullis Arena.

 

Park (15-15) closes the season despite two double-double performances, as Ashley Birch had 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Cherrale Ricks scored 13 in her final game as a Pirate, completing the double-double with a game-high 11 boards. Paula Carver led Brescia with 17 points, while Danielle Jenkins was held to only three despite grabbing 10 rebounds.

 

Jessica Bearzatto and Clarissa Houston each had 11 for Brescia, while Helen McKinney also chipped in double-figures with 13 points. Park outrebounded Brescia 46-41, including 16-15 on the offensive glass.

 

The Pirates had an early lead on an Amanda Green 3-point play to make it 11-5 with 14:29 to go, but a 10-4 Bearcat run tied it at 15 before a pair of Pirate baskets near the 8:00 mark regained the Park advantage, 22-15.

 

Houston nailed two free throws with 1:36 left in the half to make it 27-26, completing a 12-4 Brescia run, but with 1:25 remaining, Park's Jackie Greer knocked down a triple to put the Pirates up two, 29-27. The Pirates closed the final minute of the half with three made foul shots, going to intermission up 32-29.

 

The Pirates opened the second period on a 7-2 run, taking a 39-31 lead at the 14:07 mark on a Brianne Edwards lay in, but that's where the Park momentum would cease, as Brescia covered the next seven-plus minutes with a 22-4 run, taking a 53-43 lead with 6:50 to go.

 

With 5:25 remaining, Ricks knocked down two at the free throw line to bring the Pirates back within four, 54-50, and with 1:46 to go, Ricks brought Park to within a basket of taking the lead, knocking down two more foul shots to make it 59-58 Bearcats.

 

The Pirates wouldn't get any closer to the Brescia lead, though, as the Bearcats outscored Park 7-4 over the final 1:30 to earn the trip to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament in Jackson, Tenn.

 

Edwards finished the game with only four points for Park in 14 minutes, landing on the all-tournament team with Brescia's Jenkins and Carver, who was named tourney MVP. BU head coach Sean Page was named coach of the year.

 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM

Ashley McCoy, Allen

Amii Rodgers, Morris

Brittney Whaley, Voorhees

Brianne Edwards, Park

Danielle Jenkins, Brescia

Tournament MVP: Paula Carver, Brescia

Coach of the Year: Sean Page, Brescia