CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky. --- Guilford College rallied from a 12-point second-quarter deficit for a 61-57 win over the University of Mount Union Friday night in a first-round NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament game. Guilford outscored the Purple Raiders, 20-12, in the fourth quarter and closed the game on an 11-3 run.
The Quakers (22-5) advance to Saturday's second-round game to play at site host and top-ranked Thomas More College. The defending NCAA Division III champion Saints improved to 28-0 with a 102-67 win over La Roche College in Friday's other opening-round contest in the Connor Convention Center.
Behind five first-half three-pointers by senior Annie Bova, the Purple Raiders (20-8) built a 35-23 advantage. Bova, who had 17 first-half points, set up Jamie Sanborn's basket 3:59 before halftime that capped a quick 6-0 Mount Union burst. Guilford scored the half's final five points and trailed 35-28 at the break.
A Bova layup 2:22 into the third quarter opened a 39-30 Raiders' edge, but the Quakers' defense clamped down and Guilford gradually rallied. Heaven Waltersmade two technical free throws with 4:55 left in the third after teammateEssence Abraham was knocked out of the game by a hard Raiders' foul. Abraham did not return, but the Quakers rallied in her absence.
Katie Reed hit Mount Union's ninth three-pointer of the night with 4:11 left in the third quarter, which opened a 44-36 lead. It also marked the Raiders' final field goal for an eight-minute stretch that lasted into the fourth quarter. In that time, Guilford outscored Mount Union, 11-5, and rallied to within 47-45 with 7:50 left in regulation.
An Anais Weatherly three-pointer with 5:41 left brought Guilford to within 51-50 and Kayla Scott's runner in the lane three minutes later tied the game for the first time since the opening quarter. Following another defensive stop, Walters' spin move in the lane gave Guilford its first lead of the game, 56-54, with 1:48 remaining.
Walters's steal at the other set up a Guilford breakaway. The Quakers' Amy Steller was intentionally fouled with 45 seconds remaining. The junior made both free throws, Guilford maintained possession, and the Raiders fouled Scott with 43 seconds left. She made one of two free throws for a five-point Quakers' lead.
Reed's three-pointer with seven seconds left provided the game's final margin. Guilford forced seven of Mount Union's 15 turnovers and held the Raiders to three-for-13 field-goal shooting (.231) in the fourth quarter.
Lauren Ramsey paced three Quakers in double-figure scoring with 16 points and added a career-high 10 rebounds for her first college double-double. Walters collected 14 points, nine in the second half, six rebounds and a game-high three steals. Steller scored 10 points and Weatherly added six. Weatherly added a game-high 12 rebounds and two steals. Guilford outscored the Raiders in the paint, 28-16.
Bova finished with a game-high 25 points, six three-pointers, five rebounds and three assists. After a blistering first half, she shot 2-for-11 in the second half, 1-for-8 from three-point land. The Raiders' Reed collected 10 points and seven rebounds.
Guilford is making its third trip to the NCAA Tournament's second round, it's first since 2002.
--- This release is courtesy of the Guilford College sports information department. ---
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