March 17, 2008

SIOUX CITY, Iowa. - College of the Ozarks (Mo.) survived a double overtime thriller with a 79-75 victory over Hastings (Neb.) in the semifinals of the17^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

Ozarks (35-1) themselves in uncharted territory late in the second half, trailing 61-56 the Bobcats sharp shooters stepped up. Junior Kayli Combs connected from three-point range with :54 remaining, and following a miss by the Broncos, junior Janessa Demuth missed a mid-range jumper with :07 remaining but junior Lindsy Murry collected the offensive rebound and put back to send the game into overtime.

Hastings (30-6) jumped out a 70-64 advantage early in the second half, Ozarks would cut the Bronco lead to three with :09 remaining after sophomore Heather McKeon sank two free throws. Bobcat Head Coach George Wilson called a full timeout to draw up a final play. Ozarks would then go the length of the court and Combs banked in a three-pointer with less than a second remaining to move the game to a second overtime.

In the second extra frame the Broncos offense stalled as Hastings managed only three points, but they still had a chance to tie, trailing 77-75. Hastings would take a timeout to discuss their offense but following the inbounds play sophomore Kayla Messick would come up with a steal to secure the win for Ozarks.

The Bobcats were led by Combs with 26 points powered by 6-of-9 shooting from three point land, while three other players entered double digits: Murray (18), Howard (13), and DeMuth (11). Murray and Howard each had double digits in rebounds with 15 and 10 respectively.

Hastings was led by McKeon off the bench with 22 points while Rachel VanKirk added 15. Other scorers in double digits for the Broncos included: Haruka Yamashita (15) and Breanna Lien (14).

Ozarks advances to the finals to take on the winner of Morningside (Iowa) vs. Northwestern (Iowa) at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. This is the Bobcats third consecutive season playing for the National Championship, losing in 2006 to Hastings (Neb.) 58-39 and in 2007 to Indiana Wesleyan 48-34.