Fayetteville, N.C. - For the first time since the 2001 season, the N.C. Wesleyan women's basketball team has advanced to the semifinals of the USA South Conference Tournament. The 4th-seeded Bishops did so with a 68-63 win over 5th-seeded Methodist University on Friday at Fayetteville's Crown Center Arena. Senior Samantha Urquhart was simply dominant, notching a double-double of 20 points and 18 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals.
The Bishops led by ten at the break, 38-28, and went on to lead by as many 14 in the second half before the Monarchs were able to put together a late rally. Down by 12 midway through the period, MU managed to out-score NCWC 15-6 over the next eight minutes to pull within three, 61-58, with 2:18 to go.
Wesleyan answered with back-to-back buckets by junior Shanice Goree and Urquhart to to back up by seven, and the Bishops proceeded to seal the victory at the charity stripe in the final minute.
Goree and Tiffany Bell joined Urquhart in double-figures with 12 points apiece, while senior Leann Breeden chipped in 10 points off the bench thanks to a 4-for-4 showing from the floor.
Now 13-13 on the season, Wesleyan advances to play top-seeded Ferrum College on Saturday at 1:00pm for a chance to play for the championship on Sunday. Live stats will be available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/averett/wbball/scoreboard.aspx.