Adidas410s
03-11-2006, 04:18 PM
As a side note...the Cowgirls had lost their last 3 games including in the opening round of the conference tourney (a first for the program) and had already had their season ending meeting because they were not expecting a bid to the tourney at all. I guess they are making the most of it...
HSU women survive in OT, advance to Elite Eight
By Wendy Carpenter / Special to the Reporter-News
March 11, 2006
TACOMA, Wash. — For the seventh time in eight seasons the Hardin-Simmons women’s basketball team advanced to sectional round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
And for the third time the Cowgirls have made it the round of eight, after they beat Pacific Lutheran University 76-72 on Friday night at PLU’s Olson Auditorium.
"We just couldn’t get a rhythm going in overtime," PLU coach Gil Rigell said. "It’s hard to lose at home — this is not how we wanted it to end, it’s not how we expected it to end."
The Lutes (24-4) season concluded a game shy of matching their best tournament performance, when they made it to the round of eight in 1999. It was their first postseason trip since 2003, when they made it to the round of 16.
The Cowgirls (23-5) scored the first five points — on two baskets and a free throw — of overtime before PLU’s Kelly Turner made two free throws to bring the Lutes within 67-63. Hardin-Simmons made a layup and three free throws before PLU started getting hot. Turner made two 3-pointers and Nikki Johnson hit one — all well behind the 3-point line.
But its wasn’t enough as the Cowgirls advanced into the round of eight tonight against Randolph-Macon, which beat Wisconsin-Stout in the earlier game at Olson Auditorium.
The winner will play in the Final Four next weekend in Springfield, Mass.
After PLU was up 29-28 at halftime, there were five lead changes in the next 20 minutes. The Lutes were up 53-50 with 8:34 left in regulation when Hardin-Simmons went on a 9-0 run. Mallory Mann made a tough layup, and the Cowgirls responded with their own jumper. Kezia Long made consecutive baskets, and Mann tied it 61-61 with a minute left.
Hardin-Simmons missed its shot, and Johnson grabbed the rebound, with about a 10 second differential between the game clock and the shot clock. The Lutes struggled to find a shot, and were tagged with a shot clock violation. The Cowgirls got the ball back but fumbled their attempt. PLU retrieved the ball but got a bad shot off at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"We didn’t play the type of basketball that we have been playing," Rigell said. "We just got outplayed."
The Lutes had three players in double figures — Kezia Long had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, Turner finished with 21 points and Mann added 12. Johnson contributed 10 rebounds, but had six points, the first time during the NCAA Tournament, she wasn’t in double figures.
Hardin-Simmons, a surprising entrant in the tournament after finishing third in the West Division of the American Southwest Conference, advanced to the round of eight after wins last weekend over McMurry and Howard Payne.
Hardin-Simmons had four players in double figures — Melissa Henley had 20 points, while Shelby Hodges, Rachel Cisneroz and Lyssa Dennard each had 12.
HSU women survive in OT, advance to Elite Eight
By Wendy Carpenter / Special to the Reporter-News
March 11, 2006
TACOMA, Wash. — For the seventh time in eight seasons the Hardin-Simmons women’s basketball team advanced to sectional round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
And for the third time the Cowgirls have made it the round of eight, after they beat Pacific Lutheran University 76-72 on Friday night at PLU’s Olson Auditorium.
"We just couldn’t get a rhythm going in overtime," PLU coach Gil Rigell said. "It’s hard to lose at home — this is not how we wanted it to end, it’s not how we expected it to end."
The Lutes (24-4) season concluded a game shy of matching their best tournament performance, when they made it to the round of eight in 1999. It was their first postseason trip since 2003, when they made it to the round of 16.
The Cowgirls (23-5) scored the first five points — on two baskets and a free throw — of overtime before PLU’s Kelly Turner made two free throws to bring the Lutes within 67-63. Hardin-Simmons made a layup and three free throws before PLU started getting hot. Turner made two 3-pointers and Nikki Johnson hit one — all well behind the 3-point line.
But its wasn’t enough as the Cowgirls advanced into the round of eight tonight against Randolph-Macon, which beat Wisconsin-Stout in the earlier game at Olson Auditorium.
The winner will play in the Final Four next weekend in Springfield, Mass.
After PLU was up 29-28 at halftime, there were five lead changes in the next 20 minutes. The Lutes were up 53-50 with 8:34 left in regulation when Hardin-Simmons went on a 9-0 run. Mallory Mann made a tough layup, and the Cowgirls responded with their own jumper. Kezia Long made consecutive baskets, and Mann tied it 61-61 with a minute left.
Hardin-Simmons missed its shot, and Johnson grabbed the rebound, with about a 10 second differential between the game clock and the shot clock. The Lutes struggled to find a shot, and were tagged with a shot clock violation. The Cowgirls got the ball back but fumbled their attempt. PLU retrieved the ball but got a bad shot off at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.
"We didn’t play the type of basketball that we have been playing," Rigell said. "We just got outplayed."
The Lutes had three players in double figures — Kezia Long had a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds, Turner finished with 21 points and Mann added 12. Johnson contributed 10 rebounds, but had six points, the first time during the NCAA Tournament, she wasn’t in double figures.
Hardin-Simmons, a surprising entrant in the tournament after finishing third in the West Division of the American Southwest Conference, advanced to the round of eight after wins last weekend over McMurry and Howard Payne.
Hardin-Simmons had four players in double figures — Melissa Henley had 20 points, while Shelby Hodges, Rachel Cisneroz and Lyssa Dennard each had 12.