March 21, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. - Senior guard Kiely Schork hit seven three-pointers, scoring all of her team-high 21 points from beyond the arc, to lead the fourth-seeded Loyola (La.) University New Orleans Wolfpack to a 71-64 upset over the first-seeded Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University Sea Lions in the second round of the 28^th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.

Point Loma Nazarene becomes the second No. 1-seeded team eliminated prior to the quarterfinal round. Schork scored 15 of her 21 points on five first-half three-pointers that helped Loyola take a 41-34 halftime edge, and the Wolfpack led by as many as 17 points at 33-16 with 8:22 to play in the opening half. Schork had 12 of Loyola's 33 points in the first 12 minutes, then added her fifth three-pointer with 2:32 to play in the half, giving her team a 36-26 advantage.

In the second half, Point Loma Nazarene stayed within 10 points and cut Loyola's lead to just four points three times in the final six minutes of the contest. Senior center Angela Manjarrez scored in the paint to cut the lead to 57-53 with six minutes remaining, but Loyola sophomore guard Trenell Smith answered with a three-pointer on the ensuing possession.

With 1:22 to play, senior forward Meghan McGuire pulled the Sea Lions to within 64-60, but Smith answered by draining both ends of the one-and-one with 44 seconds to go. Senior guard Kati Hilbelink drove for a basket with 36 seconds left, cutting the margin to 66-62, but sophomore forward Trenese Smith sank two sets of double bonus free throws on consecutive trips down the floor to seal the win.

Trenese Smith finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Trenell Smith added 14 points and nine rebounds for Loyola. Junior forward Christine Mainguy put together eight points and game-highs of 12 rebounds and five assists for the Wolfpack, who managed the victory despite a 32 percent (19-for-60) shooting effort from the field.

Point Loma Nazarene was led by senior forward Kerra Sutton-Wodarski's game-high 22 points, while Manjarrez finished with 15 points. Hilbelink added 13 points for the Sea Lions, who finish the season with a 29-3 overall record.

Loyola, which posted its first national tournament victory in program history with Thursday's first-round win over Westminster (Utah), advances into its first-ever quarterfinals. The Wolfpack will face sixth-seeded Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) in Saturday's 2 p.m. quarterfinal.

NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.

Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.