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

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – (Box Score - Bracket) Playing in No. 4 Briar Cliff’s (Iowa) backyard, top-seeded Southern Oregon leaned upon the steady-handedness of senior point guard Ashley Claussen and the momentum-boosting shots of Demi Sahlinger in riding to victory on Friday night. The Raiders shook off a slow start to the fourth quarter and sewed up their spot in the quarterfinals by way of an 81-70 decision in the second round of the 2016 NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball National Championships inside the Tyson Events Center.

Head coach Alex Carlson’s program, which has never been to a national title game, has been nearly spotless this season with a 31-1 overall record. On the other hand, head coach Mike Power’s squad finished the 2015-16 campaign with a mark of 23-10.

Following an 8-0 Briar Cliff run to open the fourth quarter (Southern Oregon led 65-62), Autumn Durand pumped in five-straight Southern Oregon points and Claussen drained a crucial corner three to push the Raider advantage back to seven (73-66) with just over three minutes remaining. Less than two minutes later, Sahlinger tossed in a back-breaking mid-range jumper and pumped her fist. The Raiders led 77-68 and had the game in hand.

Claussen finished with a game high 22 points while Durand added 16 points and eight rebounds and Sahlinger chipped in 12 points, six rebounds and three assists. With its talented trio leading the way, Southern Oregon shot 52.5 percent (32-for-61) from the floor. That effort helped overcome 6-for-15 foul shooting.

Sahlinger had capped a sterling third quarter for Southern Oregon when she picked up a loose ball and banked in a running 35-footer to beat the buzzer. That bomb lifted the Raiders to their largest lead of the game, 65-54. It turned out to be their last field goal for nearly five minutes. The ensuing drought helped Briar Cliff claw back within three points.

Four different Chargers found the bottom of the net during the early fourth-quarter run that enlivened their Sioux City crowd. Kaylee Blake and Morgan Hansen both powered in 17 points in driving Briar Cliff’s push for a second-straight run to the semifinals.

Southern Oregon will bid for a semifinal appearance when it takes on No. 3 Tabor (Kan.) (28-7) at 6 p.m. CT on Saturday. The 2016 championships are presented by Mercy Medical Center and Seaboard Triumph Foods.