Box Score JACKSON, Tenn. -- Lindsey Wilson College narrowly missed pulling the biggest upset of the first round of the 2006 NAIA Women's Basketball National Tournament this morning, falling 60-57 to No. 2 seed Houston Baptist University at the Oman Arena.

Trailing 58-57 with 19 seconds left in the game, Blue Raider sophomore center Terran Duncan's shot was blocked by Houston Baptist's Sherill Hadrick, forcing Lindsey Wilson to foul Dominique Thomas with 18.8 seconds remaining. Thomas connected on both free throws to expand the Huskies' lead to 60-57.
Houston Baptist (28-3) applied heavy pressure as Lindsey Wilson (19-12) moved the ball around the perimeter. Just before time expired, senior forward Rebecca Husband got a shot away from about 15 feet on the right side. Her shot glanced off the rim as time expired.

"I am so proud of my players today. They played one of their better games of the season," said LWC coach John B. Wethington, who has taken five Blue Raider teams to the NAIA. "They played extremely well against one of the top teams in the country and gave them all they can handle. This team was averaging more than 88 points a game, and we held them 28 points below their average. They also entered the game as the nation's fourth-best rebounding team, and we out-rebounded them by six.

"Houston Baptist will be a better team in this tournament because of the challenge they received this morning."

When the game tipped off shortly after 9 a.m. CST, things didn't appear promising for the Blue Raiders, who were the No. 7 seed in the tournament's four eight-team pods.

The Huskies scored the game's first four points off two LWC turnovers before Wethington called a quick time out just 1:45 into the game.

"We came out a little tight and hesitant, and I reminded the players to play the game that got them to Jackson," Wethington said.

The Blue Raiders responded to Wethington's pep talk by going on an 18-6 run over the next 7:52, capped by a basket by sophomore guard Kara Gibson.

Lindsey Wilson took its largest lead of the game at 22-13 with eight minutes left in the half. Houston Baptist then slowly chipped away at the lead with inside baskets to trail 29-26 at halftime.

"We felt pretty good about our chances at halftime," Wethington said. "We had done a good job taking care of the ball and rebounding it, and we were limiting their looks at the basket."

In the second half, Lindsey Wilson led 42-35 with 12:01 to play following a Tiffany Reid free throw. The seven-point lead was the Blue Raiders' largest of the second half.

That's when Houston Baptist star senior guard Jere Adams -- who had been held to four points in the game's first 30 minutes -- took over the game. Adams made a three-point basket at 9:12 to cut the LWC lead to 42-40. She then tied it at 42-42 with 8:48 left with two free throws. Adams, who entered the game averaging 16.4 points, ended the game with 18 points.

"We knew she was a dangerous player and she was going to get her points," Wethington said. "But we didn't wilt when she turned it up and led their rally late in the second half."

But Blue Raiders held a 47-45 lead before another Adams three-pointer gave the Huskies a 48-47 lead at 6:13. As the shot was in the air, official Bryan Porch looked across the court and assessed a technical foul on Wethington for questioning a non-call seconds earlier.

Adams then went to the line and hit both free throws, giving the Huskies a five-point trip.

LWC responded with a three-point goal by Gibson and then Blue Raider senior Demoya Williams hit two free throws with 5:12 left to give LWC a 51-50 lead.

Houston Baptist regained the lead at 56-55 with 2:47 left on a pair of Hadrick free throws. Lindsey Wilson took their final lead of the game at 57-56 with 1:31 to play when Duncan put back a missed shot by Reid.

Huskie guard Rebecca Morales then hit a jump shot from 10 feet out with 42 seconds left to give Houston Baptist a 58-57 lead. LWC had three more field goal attempts, but came up empty.

For the game, both teams shot poorly: Lindsey Wilson finished 20-of-60 (33.3 percent) and Houston Baptist was 21-of-60 (35 percent). The Huskies finished the game 4-of-26 (15.4 percent) from beyond the arc.

Lindsey Wilson also out-rebounded Houston Baptist 44-38. The Huskies entered the game fourth in the nation, averaging 43.9 rebounds per game.

The Blue Raiders were led by Williams' 16 points and 12 rebounds. Gibson and sophomore Krystal Jackson each had 10 points, respectively.

Adams and junior forward Velencia Kuykendall each had a game-high 18 points.