Morningside Staves Off Daemen

Sioux City, Iowa – (Box Score) Morningside (Iowa) saw its 11-point early second-half lead vanish with a minute to go in the first game decided by single digits on day one of the 2012 State Farm-NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championship. The Mustangs, playing in their hometown of Sioux City,Iowa, were able to squeak by Daemen (N.Y.) 65-60 by nailing five free throws in the final minute on Wednesday.

The Wildcats came all the way back to tie the game at 60 apiece after a Courtney Donovan 3-pointer with 1:43 to go and a Samantha Stanfield two-point jumper with 1:00 remaining. Daemen would fail to score the rest of the game.

Chelsea Trask, who sank three throws in the last 40 seconds, finished with a game-high 20 points for Morningside. The Mustangs enjoyed their biggest edge in turnover margin as they committed just seven of their own and benefitted from 20 Daemen turnovers.

The Wildcats were led by 19 points from Monica Kosior. Ellie Allen added 13 points, six rebounds and five assists.

The Mustangs will advance to play the winner of Mount Mercy (Iowa) and Southwestern (Kan.) at 5:15 p.m. on Friday.