BILLINGS, Mont. - Thrilling games and a upsets highlighted the opening day of action in Billings, Mont., at the 2019 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship, presented by Visit Billings. 6 seed Lewis-Clark State College and 7 seed LSU-Alexandria both pulled off upsets on Wednesday. The Generals will now advance to battle the Warriors of LC-State on Friday morning.
• No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) def. No.4 Bethel (Tenn.) 60-49 | Box Score
• No. 1 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) def. No. 8 Dillard (La.) 63-53 | Box Score
• No. 6 Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) def. No. 3 William Penn (Iowa) 64-58 | Box Score
• No. 7 LSU-Alexandria (La.) def. No. 2 Westmont. (Calif.) 70-59 | Box Score
• No. 1 Montana Western def. No. 8 Georgetown (Ky.) 89-69 | Box Score
• No. 5 Lyon (Ark.) def. No. 4 Vanguard (Calif.) 77-73 | Box Score
• No. 3 IU MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) def. No. 6 Xavier (La.) 72-65 | Box Score
• No. 2 The Master’s (Calif.) def. No. 7 Science and Arts (Okla.) 54-40 | Box Score
Highlights
• Lindsey Wilson came back from the half with a two point lead and extended that lead to 10 point by the end of the third quarter. The Blue Raiders would maintain that lead to capture the first round win.
• Reagan Turner of Lindsey Wilson led all scorers with 27 points. While Myah Taylor of Bethel followed with 26 points.
• LWC closed out the game with a 34 percent field goal percentage
LSU-Alexandria provided the tournament’s first upset with a 70-59 win over last year’s runner-up.
· Making their first appearance in the national tournament LSUA shot 52 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point range. To advance to the second round
· LSUA was led by Aja Law’s game-high 27 points. Westmont was led by Stefanie Berberabe’s 15 points.
• The Masters used the strong play Stephanie Soares and Anika Neuman to advance to the second round in the tournament.
• Soares had a monster 12 point 18 rebound double-double, she added five blocks and two assists while Neuman added 19 points and four steals. Science and Arts were led by Vivian Holcomb’s six points 17 rebound performance.
• TMU forced 21 turnovers in an offensive struggle. TMU shot 25.7 percent while USAO shot 28.3 percent.
• MNU jumped out to and early lead and fought off a second-half comeback to advance to the second round in the tournament.
• MidAmerica was led by Whitney Mioa’s 14 points, 10 rebound double-double, and Kechelle Figueroa’s game-high 17 points.
• MNU shot 44.7 percent despite committing 22 turnovers. XU shot just 28 percent and scored 38 points off the bench
• Freed-Hardeman started fast, building a 13-point lead in the first quarter. Dillard rallied to cut the lead to one with five minutes remaining in the third. The Lady Lions closed the game on a 11-3 run to secure the win.
• Freed-Hardeman had three players score in double figures, led by Jamie Crum’s 17 points. Dillard’s Alyssa Washington led all scorers with 20 points.
• FHU shot 39.3 percent and held DU to just three made 3-point shots.
• LC State kept the upset trend going with a 64-58 win over William Penn, to advance to the second round in the tournament.
• LC State forced 16 WPU turnovers and scored 18 points off those giveaways.
• LC State was led by Hailey Turner’s 13 points. William Penn was led by Vashti Nwagbaraocha’s 22 point 11 rebound double-double.
• After a slow start Montana Western found it’s rhythm and cruised into the second round of the Tournament for the third straight season.
• Four Bulldogs scored in double-figures, led by Tori Anderson’s game-high 20 points. Georgetown was led by Madison Darnell’s 14 points.
• The Bulldogs shot 50 percent from the floor and were a plus 12 in rebounds. The Tigers shot 38 percent from the floor.
• Both teams battled in a hard-fought game with Lyon College hanging on late, hitting clutch free-throws down the stretch to seal the win.
• Liz Henderson scored a game-high 25 points for Lyon. Tristen Rollon scored 21 points for Vanguard.
• Both teams shot the ball well with Lyon shooting 48.2 percent from the floor, and Vanguard connecting at a 50.9 percent clip.