By Scott Barker, Communications and Sports Information Intern

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – (Box Score | Bracket) No. 2-seed MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) cruised to a first round victory over No. 7-seed Martin Methodist (Tenn.), 68-53, in the final game of the 2016 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship first round.

"Early on we communicated really well and we handled them how we wanted to,” said MidAmerica Nazarene head coach Jon Lewis “We kept them on the side of the floor and we really kept them on the sidelines and baselines where we wanted them to play and that took away some of their drivers. For the most part we covered each other up and played good team defense and communicated well.”

Martin Methodist (22-12) had success early, as it held a 7-2 advantage a little more than three minutes into the game. However, that advantage did not last long, as MidAmerica Nazarene (28-5) went on a 13-0 run to break the game open and make it a 15-7 score line with 2:47 left in the quarter.

It was much of the same in the second quarter with the Pioneers holding a nine-point lead (19-10) at the break.

MidAmerica Nazarene shot 45 percent in the first half and forced 12 RedHawks turnovers. The Pioneer’s bench played a big part in the first half, outscoring Martin Methodist’s bench by a clip of 14-2. Martin Methodist shot 29 percent (9-of-31) from the field.

The RedHawks cut the lead down to seven in the final period, but did not draw any closer. The Pioneers extended its lead to a game-high 18-points in the fourth quarter, eventually winning by the aforementioned 15-point spread.

MidAmerica Nazarene shot 40.3 percent for the game and was led in scoring by Megan Balcom, who dropped 15 points. Nathalie Felipe scored 14 points and Bailey Rinehart added 10 points. Kyleesha Weston, who ranks No. 4 in the NAIA in total steals (88) and No. 8 in steals per game (2.7), was a catalyst on defense with six thefts. 

The RedHawks shot 54.5 percent in the second half to bring their game total to 39.6 percent. They connected on only 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) from downtown for the game. Nina Mills scored a game-high 16 points and Teairra Luckett added 10, as the only players in double figures.

The Pioneers, making their fifth national championship appearance, earned their third-straight first round victory and improve their championship record to 3-4. The RedHawks are now 0-2 in two championship appearances.

MidAmerica Nazarene will play Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) tomorrow at 9:45 p.m. CDT.