March 16, 2007

JACKSON, Tenn. - Third-seeded Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) will appear in the quarterfinals for a 14th time after posting an 80-63 victory over Westminster College (Utah), completing the second round of the 27th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship at Oman Arena.

Southern Nazarene went on an 18-3 run midway through the first half en route to a 38-28 halftime advantage, but Westminster responded with a 13-2 run out of the halftime break for a 41-40 lead less than three and a half minutes into the second half. After the lead changed hands four more times, Southern Nazarene regained the lead for good on two of Khady Ngom's 23 second-half points that sparked an 8-0 run.

With 8:21 remaining, Shannon Evans sank a three-pointer to cut the Southern Nazarene lead down to two points, and an Alicia Haberle trey just over two minutes later brought Westminster to within four at 65-61 with 6:01 left in the game. Westminster was held without a field goal over the final six minutes, as Southern Nazarene sealed the victory with a 15-2 run to close out the game.

Ngom tied the tournament's single-game scoring high with a total of 30 points, and Lashelle Chandler added 20 points, nailing five-of-seven three-point attempts.

Evans led the way for Westminster with 16 points, and Haberle scored all 15 of her points from three-point range, sinking five-of-eight from long distance. Elisa Leader added 14 points, including four three-pointers, as the Griffins shot 50 percent (13-for-26) from long range.

Southern Nazarene improves to 30-5 overall and will take on Lambuth (Tenn.) in a Saturday night quarterfinal at 8 p.m. Westminster finishes its season at 22-13 overall.