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Women's Basketball Erases Deficit, Ultimately Falls 71-67 to Azusa Pacific

Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Even with 25 points and 19 rebounds, Ashley Rainey couldn't get the fourth seeded Lindsey Wilson College women's basketball team past top seeded Azusa Pacific (Calif.) University as it dropped to 0-3 all time in NAIA National Championship second-round games with a 71-67 loss on Friday at Oman Arena.

Alongside Rainey in double figures for the Blue Raiders were senior Viktoria Krell with 14 points and five rebounds and senior Diondra Anthony with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Anthony, Krell and their classmate Bethany Spillman all saw their Blue Raider careers come to an end with the national-tournament loss. Spillman finished the game with five points, four assists and three rebounds.

The Cougars were led by Eboni Sadler with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while Alex Moore-Porter added 17 points and nine rebounds in the win.

It was a different day but the same story as Lindsey Wilson (24-9) was forced to make an improbable comeback to have a chance to win a game down the stretch.

Azusa Pacific (30-5) went into halftime up 44-31 and led by as many as 14 points in the second half before the Blue Raiders made another postseason run.

With just over eight minutes to play in the game, Spillman tied the game at 57 for the first time in the game on a 3-pointer. The deep shot capped a 9-2 run for the Blue Raiders to tie the game.

Lindsey Wilson seemed to be out of runs with 1:52 on the clock and down by six at 67-61 as Azusa Pacific Continued to keep up its stifling defensive pressure. Then junior Tiffany Williams checked into the game and immediately drained a 3-pointer to once again bring the Blue Raiders within three.

After a pair of free-throw opportunities, the Cougars extended their lead to five (69-64) leading to a 3-point attempt by Spillman that was blocked, ultimately sealing Lindsey Wilson's fate with the second-round loss.

The Blue Raiders fall to 0-3 all-time in second-round play at the NAIA Championship, while Azusa Pacific makes it to the quarterfinals for the second straight season where it will face Lubbock Christian (Texas) University on Saturday.

First-half play was controlled by the Cougars as they jumped out to a 12-6 lead five minutes into the game. The Blue Raiders brought the lead down to two at 27-25, but Azusa Pacific reeled off a 17-6 run over the final five minutes of the half to enter the break down by 13 points.

Lindsey Wilson shot 46.6 percent from the field, compared to 45.9 percent by Azusa Pacific. The Blue Raiders hit just 4-of-16 threes in the game for 25.0 percent, while the Cougars knocked down 4-of-11 threes for 36.4 percent.

The Blue Raiders avoided losing the rebound battle by one at 36-35, but turned the ball over 18 times compared to just 10 by the Cougars.

Lindsey Wilson closes the season with a 24-9 overall record and 13-5 mark in Mid-South Conference play.
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Players Mentioned

Ashley Rainey

#23 Ashley Rainey

F
6' 2"
Sophomore
Bethany Spillman

#41 Bethany Spillman

F
6' 1"
Senior
Diondra Anthony

#3 Diondra Anthony

G
5' 7"
Senior
Tiffany Williams

#22 Tiffany Williams

G
5' 7"
Junior
Viktoria Krell

#45 Viktoria Krell

F/C
6' 0"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Ashley Rainey

#23 Ashley Rainey

6' 2"
Sophomore
F
Bethany Spillman

#41 Bethany Spillman

6' 1"
Senior
F
Diondra Anthony

#3 Diondra Anthony

5' 7"
Senior
G
Tiffany Williams

#22 Tiffany Williams

5' 7"
Junior
G
Viktoria Krell

#45 Viktoria Krell

6' 0"
Senior
F/C
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