March 21, 2008

JACKSON, Tenn. - Fifth-seeded Lubbock Christian (Texas) University posted a 76-60 victory over top-seeded Lee (Tenn.) University, eliminating the third No. 1 seed from the 28^th Annual NAIA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship before the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003.

 

Senior forward Carolyn Manning scored a tournament-high 33 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Manning was 10-of-13 from the field and made 13-of-14 free throws to lead the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps into their second national quarterfinals in the past three seasons. She scored seven straight points in the midst of a 15-0 run that gave Lubbock Christian a 17-7 lead less than six minutes into the game.

 

Lee responded with seven straight points to tie the game at 17-17, then tied it again at 25-25 with 5:35 remaining in the half, but a pair of Manning free throws gave Lubbock Christian the lead for good as the Lady Chaps took a 38-34 halftime lead.

 

Junior guards Sierra Wilcox-Lovorn and Jordan Hampton hit back-to-back three-pointers to open the second half, sparking a 12-0 run that pushed Lubbock Christian's lead to 50-34 with 14:29 remaining. The Lady Chaps maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way, taking their largest lead of the game at 72-48 on another pair of Manning free throws with 3:24 to play.

 

Lubbock Christian shot 53 percent (25-for-47) from the field and hit its free throws at an 84 percent (21-for-25) clip. Hampton finished with 14 points, six rebounds and a game-high six assists, and freshman guard Bailey St. Clair was a perfect five-for-five from the field for 10 points.

 

Lee's sophomore forward Katie Nelson paced the Lady Flames with a team-high 14 points, and senior guard Jan Dodson added 13 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Jessica Still finished with 11 points. Lee's 27-game winning streak was snapped to end the Lady Flames' campaign with a final record of 32-3.

 

Lubbock Christian, now 25-9 on the season, advances to a quarterfinal matchup Saturday at 6 p.m. against the Freed-Hardeman/Wiley winner.

 

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.