March 20, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. - Five players scored in double figures to lead the sixth-seeded Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) University Trojans to an 85-56 victory over third-seeded Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University Crimson Storm in the first round of the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship. The result was the fourth time in the first nine games of the first round in which the lower-seeded team knocked off a higher seed.

 

Senior guard Mariska Reed scored 14 of her game-high 17 points in the first half, leading Trevecca Nazarene to a 46-25 halftime lead. She was also one of three Trojans players with a game-high nine rebounds, and she dished out a game-high six assists. Sophomore guard Abby Lawson added scored 12 of her 14 points in the opening half, and she finished with nine rebounds, as well.

 

Southern Nazarene took its only lead of the game at 5-4 on senior guard Ashley Jackson's three-pointer less than two minutes into the game, but Reed's three-point play just 23 seconds later swung the lead to Trevecca Nazarene for good with 17:38 remaining in the first half. Junior center Jennifer Bognar's basket with 10:26 remaining sparked a 9-0 run that turned a four-point lead into a 25-12 advantage with eight minutes to play. The Trojans led by double digits the rest of the way. Southern Nazarene closed to within 15 points at 71-56 with 3:28 remaining in the game following a 13-5 run, but Trevecca Nazarene finished the game with a 14-0 run for the final 29-point margin, its largest lead of the contest.

 

Southern Nazarene was held to a 24 percent (15-for-62) shooting effort from the field, and no Crimson Storm players finished in double figures. Jackson tallied team-highs of nine points and nine rebounds, and junior guard Kinzie Glover tied for the team-high with nine points, as well.

 

Archie finished with 13 points, including a trio of three-pointers, and Bognar added 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals for Trevecca Nazarene. Freshman forward K.C. Van Atta made a pair of three-pointers and finished with 10 points to go with a game-high three blocked shots.

 

The win is the fourth consecutive first-round victory for Trevecca Nazarene, which improves to 20-11 on the season, while Southern Nazarene finishes the season 25-7 overall. The Trojans advance to Friday's second round, where they will take on the Langston/Berry winner in a 9 a.m. contest.