March 20, 2006

JACKSON, Tenn. - And there were two.

Two teams remain after the semifinal match-ups between top-seeded Vanguard University and sixth-seeded Lubbock Christian University, then second-seeded The Master's College and second-seeded Union University (Tenn.) at the 26th annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship at the Oman Arena.

All four teams were in the final NAIA Top 25 poll released March 1, with Vanguard ranked at the top of the poll for the 12th time in the season, Union ranked fourth, The Master's 12th and Lubbock Christian 21st.

The semi-final round saw its second largest crowd of the tournament for a single session with 2,972 in attendance, second to Saturday's 3, 216 in the quarterfinals.

In the first game of the Fab Four, Lubbock Christian took on Vanguard University and controlled the Lady Lions' offense by denying a basket on the first 10 attempts, while jumping out to a double-figure lead in a surprising beginning to some, possibly all, except the LCU faithful. Lubbock Christian went on to defeat the top-ranked Lions and advance to their first-ever NAIA National Championship game of any sport, collecting their fourth tournament game, just four days after collecting their first in their third trip to Jackson.

In the second game of the night, Union University worked toward defending their championship from last season by eliminating The Master's. The Lady Bulldogs took a 40-14 halftime lead, and held on for the win after allowing the Lady Mustangs to compile a 24-5 run and cut the lead to six, 55-49, with 1:39 left to play.

The Championship field is set with Cinderella Lubbock Christian to face off against Union, the team that defeated them in the first round last season, a win that sparked a nine game tournament win streak for the Lady Bulldogs.

Union (30-6) will look for their third championship when the two teams meet Tuesday, while Lubbock Christian (23-11) will look for a pair of bookends to put around Union's win streak with a win to leave it at nine and capture their first title.