MONTGOMERY, Ala.- The Blue Raider women's basketball team defeated Williams Baptist (Ark.) 87-67 in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament to advance to tomorrow's second round against Southeastern (Fla.) at 4 P.M. CT. 

Taylor Guess led all scores for a 35-point new career high on 14-of-20 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the free throw line with seven rebounds. Amelia Hodges tallied 20 points knocking down 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Jarie Thomas rounded out the double-figure scoring with 12 points connecting on all three of her free throw attempts. 

Hodges opened the scoring for Lindsey Wilson, knocking down a three on an assist from Shelton to lead 3-0 with 9:29 on the clock. Williams Baptist took a 4-3 lead at 8:13 on a layup from Joi Montgomery. Another three from Hodges at 7:41 sparked a 10-0 run to lead 13-4 with 5:34 left in the first quarter. Claire Fleming knocked down a jumper at 3:10 to send LWU on a 9-2 run, giving the Blue Raiders a 22-10 run headed into the second quarter of action. 

Guess connected on a layup at the 9:43 mark to extend the lead to 24-10 in the second. From 8:17 to 4:10, both teams traded buckets with Lady Eagle Chelsea Hamilton knocking down a three to make it an eight-point ballgame for a 38-30 score with 3:05 on the clock. Six points from Guess in the last 2:55 of the first half edged the Blue Raiders ahead 46-37 headed into the half.

Meadow Tisdale picked up her first bucket of the night with 9:25 left in the third for a 48-39 lead in favor of LWU. With 7:48 on the clock, Hodges finished a tough and-one play to extend the lead back to 10 at 51-41. Thomas knocked down a three at 6:05, sparking a 10-2 run to lead 63-45 with 2:46 left in the third quarter. Guess closed the quarter with an and-one completion to give the Blue Raiders a 70-52 advantage headed into the final ten minutes of action. 

Lindsey Wilson was held scoreless till the 4:55 mark when Guess knocked down a jumper to end a 9-0 Lady Eagle run, pushing the lead back to 72-61. The Blue Raiders closed the fourth quarter on a 14-6 run to take a 87-67 victory over Williams Baptist. 

Women's Hoops will be back in action tomorrow at 4 P.M. CT to face Southeastern (Fla.) in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.