By Jacob Knabel, Concordia (Neb.) Sports Information Director

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score) Fourth-seeded Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) ran off the first 14 points of Wednesday’s first-round game at the 2016 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships, presented by Mercy Medical Center and Seaboard Triumph Foods. It only got worse for Stritch’s opponent, Lawrence Tech (Mich.), which got trounced, 82-52, in its first-ever appearance on the national stage.

Third-year head coach John Pfaffl’s much more primetime-tested Wolves moved to 25-7 overall and have advanced to play at 1:45 p.m. CT on Friday in the second round. Meanwhile, head coach Mary Pinkowski’s Blue Raiders end their season at 24-5.

The numbers reflected the lopsided final. Stritch shot 50 percent compared to 33.3 percent by Lawrence Tech. The Blue Raiders also turned it over 23 times and were outrebounded, 48-30. The Wolves’ Monica Hinderer needed only limited minutes to pile up 20 points and eight rebounds. Hinderer led the way for a quintet of double-figure scorers for Cardinal Stritch. Other high scorers were Mika Passini (14), Kelli Schrauth (12) and Emily Neitzel (11).

The stingy defensive effort has become the norm for the Wolves, who entered the tournament ranked second nationally in scoring defense (54.7) and eighth in field goal percentage defense (.349). The Lawrence Tech trio of Hali Butler, Christina Henry and Allison Kitchen combined for 19 points, far below their collective season average of 37.4.

The Wolves led 45-23 at the half and maintained a lead of more than 20 points the rest of the way. Stritch is now 14-19 all-time at the national championships. This marks the fifth-straight season that the Wolves have reached at least the second round of the bracket.