March 15, 2002

Contact: Roger Redmon
NAIA Media Operations
(731) 265-2016

NORTH GEORGIA REACHES NAIA WOMEN’S QUARTERFINALS

WITH 82-74 WIN OVER LEWIS-CLARK STATE (ID)

JACKSON, Tenn. – No. 7-seed North Georgia College rallied from a 12-point first-half deficit to claim an 82-74 victory over unseeded Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) College and earn a quarterfinal berth in the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament at Oman Arena.

Lewis-Clark State (23-11) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and held a 42-36 edge at the half. North Georgia (32-3) still trailed by seven with just under 13 minutes remaining before going on a 12-0 run to grab a 58-53 lead with 7:41 to play. Senior guard Keisha Hall and junior guard Stacy Parris both connected on three-pointers to key the Lady Saints’ surge. Lewis-Clark State clawed back to within two points on three separate occasions only to see North Georgia build its lead to as many as 10 points and hang on for the win.

Hall, who finished with 22 points and four assists, scored 15 of the Lady Saints’ final 20 points. She hit 9-of-10 free throws in the final 2:24 to help clinch the win. Junior center Courtney Hester hit 12-of-22 from the field and led all scorers with 29 points. Hester also paced the Lady Saints to a 35-34 rebounding edge by collecting a game-high 12 boards. Senior guard Sally Rush and sophomore center Angelyn Love were also in double figures with 11 points.

Sophomore guard Jessica Foot led five Lewis-Clark State players in double digits with 17 points. Six-foot-three senior center Katarina Gabaniova added 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots. Junior guard Shanta Coleman pitched in 13 points, followed by senior guard Brianne Kottwitz with 12, and junior forward Kyla Harris with 11.

North Georgia is making its third trip to the quarterfinals. The Lady Saints will play the winner of the second-round match-up between second-seeded Oklahoma City University and No. 15-seed Brescia (Ky.) University at 2 p.m. CST Saturday at Oman Arena.

-NAIA-
 

Box score vs. North Georgia