SIOUX CITY, Iowa. - Concordia University, Nebraska was able to hold off Davenport and earn a hard fought 82-72 victory in the second round of the17th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa. In the topsy-turvy first half, the teams swapped the lead with scoring runs and closed the half with Davenport leading by one point, 32-31. In the second frame the Panthers were able to get a quick bucket after a Concordia miss, but the Panthers would not score again until freshman Brittany Lyman hit a free throw with 15:09 remaining. During that span Concordia couldn't miss, jumping out to a 47-34 lead.
Davenport would chip into Concordia's lead, eventually pulling even with the Bulldogs at 50-50 on a lay in by Davenport senior Jeanette Woodberry. The turning point in the ball game came as the Bulldogs, leading by four, missed a three-point attempt but ruled the boards. Senior Libby Hirssig pulled down the missed three-pointer and made two other rebounds before scoring and extending the Bulldog lead to six.
Davenport couldn't close the gap and Concordia, meanwhile, was solid at the free throw line. On the day Concordia shot 72 percent from the charity stripe while going to the line 43 times (31-for-43).
Libby Hirssig led the Concordia offense, netting a double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds, while junior Whitney Stichka added 19 points and junior Melissa Tinkham chipped in with 17 points.
Davenport was led by senior point guard Jeanette Woodberry. She had a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds to pace the Panthers.
Concordia advances to the quarter finals to take on College of the Ozarks (Mo.) Saturday at 1 p.m.
See also: NAIA tournament page;
Sioux City Journal tournament coverage;
; Concordia's game against College of the Ozarks (round three); Concordia's game against Union College (round one)
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