By Scott Barker, Communications and Sports Information

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – (Box Score | Bracket) No. 2-seed MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) had no trouble in its quarterfinal game, as the Pioneers knocked off No. 5-seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), 60-44, in the quarterfinals of the 2016 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Championship. The event is held at the Silverstein Eye Centers Arena.

With the score tied at four with 5:41 left in the opening frame, MidAmerica Nazarene used a 13-6 run over the rest of the quarter to take control of the game and lead 17-10 at the conclusion of the first period. 

The Pioneers stretched the 13-6 run out to 21-8 over the first 3:03 of the second quarter to take a commanding 25-12 advantage with 6:57 left in the first half. The Pioneers extended their lead out to 20 (35-15) after a basket by Nathalie Felipe. Jasmine Webb netted a mid-range jumper to give MidAmerica Nazarene the 37-19 lead at the break.

Lindsey Wilson, which ranks 3^rd in the NAIA in field goal percentage (45.9 percent), shot 24.1 percent (7-of-21) in the first, including 0-for-9 from behind the 3-point line.

MidAmerica Nazarene continued to lead by double figures in the second half. The Pioneers stretched its lead out to 22 (47-45) on a pair of free throws by Jasmine Webb with 5:17 left in the third quarter. The Blue Raiders were able to pull within 13 points at 54-41 with 8:21 left in the game but, that’s as close as they would get as the Pioneers won by a margin of 16 points (60-44).

Megan Balcom continued her stellar play at the championship, as she contributed 11 points (all in the first half) on 4-of-13 shooting. She is now averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game in the championship. Balcom was joined in double figures by Webb, who poured in a team-high 12 points.

Seven of the nine Pioneers that stepped on the court scored at least five points.

For the game, MidAmerica shot 37 percent on 22-of-59 shooting and 33.3 percent (5-of-15) from downtown. The Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament champion scored 15 points off of 14 Blue Raiders turnovers and outscored Lindsey Wilson 20-9 in the second quarter.

Lindsey Wilson was led in scoring by Kayla Styles and Chanel Roberts with 13 points each. The Blue Raiders shot 1-of-13 (7 percent) from beyond the arc and 30.4 percent from the field. 

The Blue Raiders move to 5-11 all-time in the championship in 11 appearances.

MidAmerica Nazarene moves to the semifinals for the first time in program history and will face No. 6-seed Pikeville (Ky.) Monday at 8 p.m. CDT.