JACKSON, Tenn. - Second-seeded Vanguard (Calif.) University held fourth-seeded Carroll (Mont.) College without a field goal for an eight-minute stretch, sending the Lions to their third straight semifinals appearance with a 71-56 quarterfinals victory at the 28^th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.

 

Carroll led for the game's first 10 minutes, but sophomore guard Bridgette Reyes made a pair of free throws with 8:56 left in the first half to give Vanguard its first lead of the game at 13-11, and the Lions never trailed again. Carroll pulled to within 23-17 with 5:17 on senior center Tiffany Rochelle's basket, but the Fighting Saints went the final five minutes of the period, as well as nearly three minutes to start the second half, without a field goal. During that time, Vanguard went on a 16-1 run, with senior forward Melissa Cook's putback giving the Lions a 39-18 lead with 17:44 remaining in the game.

 

Rochelle snapped the field goal drought with a fast break layup with 17:12 to play, and senior guard Caitlin Courchaine drilled back-to-back three-pointers to pull Carroll to within 16 points at 42-26 with just over 16 minutes left. However, Vanguard got three points back when senior guard Jessica Richter converted a three-point play on the ensuing possession, and the Lions led by at least 16 points the rest of the way until Carroll's senior guard Jolene Fuzesy hit a three-pointer in the final minute to cut the lead to the final 71-56 margin.

 

Vanguard forced 28 Fighting Saints turnovers, turning those opportunities into a 25-3 edge in points off turnovers. The Lions were led by junior forward Lauren Gregory's 22 points, which included five-of-eight three-pointers. Senior forward Melissa Cook was just one rebound short of a double-double, registering 17 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

 

Carroll was limited to just 18 first-half points, and the Fighting Saints made just one-of-13 first-half three-point attempts before heating up to hit seven-of-12 after halftime. Fuzesy and Courchaine hit three each from long distance, and Fuzesy was the team's scoring leader with 11 points. Courchaine and Maloney added nine points each, and Courchaine dished out a game-high five assists.

 

Vanguard, now 27-5 on the season, moves on to Monday's semifinals, where it will face the Union/Lewis-Clark State winner for the chance to advance to its first-ever national title game. Carroll's deepest tournament run in its five all-time appearances ends in the quarterfinals, and the Fighting Saints end the campaign 27-6 overall.