| Nicole Wurdeman had 22 points and 12 rebounds for
Babson. Babson athletics photo |
Three of Saturday night's regional finals were so good, they needed extra time to finish them.
The best was in Maine where Babson outlasted Colby 76-73 in double overtime. The teams took turns holding -- and losing -- leads throughout the night. Babson led the entire first half, though only by two at the break. Julianne Kowalski drilled a three for Colby to give the White Mules their first lead early in the second half. Colby led for most of the second half until the Beavers took a one point lead with 17 seconds left. Kowalski hit one of two free throws to send the game to overtime. Extra time followed the same pattern. Colby led for most of the first overtime, but couldn't finish the Beavers off. Babson led for all of the second overtime and, when Kowalski missed a three pointer with one second left, finally claimed victory.
Mount Union defeated its second ranked team in as many nights when the Purple Raiders edged Messiah 62-61 in overtime. Rosa LaMattina had 18 points and six rebounds in the victory. Next up for Mount Union is Washington U. The Bears upended Thomas More 80-64 in Kentucky behind Kathryn Berger's 25 points, earning their 51st NCAA tournament win against just 18 losses. Rochester defeated Mary Washington 61-54 in overtime. Jenna McRae's late three-pointer sent the game to overtime for the Eagles but the Yellowjackets would not be denied.
The Amherst-Williams rivalry will have a new wrinkle next weekend. The top ranked and undefeated Lord Jeffs ousted Southern Maine 76-49 and will get their archrivals next since the Ephs rolled past DeSales 94-77. Christopher Newport is also still unbeaten after cruising past Roanoke 72-48. Kean led Tufts by just one at the break but dominated the second half in its 76-65 win. The Cougars outscored the Jumbos in the paint 42-10.
Hope led from tip to close and eliminated DePauw 68-54. The Flying Dutch face Marymount next after the Saints breezed by Medaille 74-44. Illinois Wesleyan and UW-Stevens Point make up the other half of that sectional. The Titans rolled past Simpson 83-53 and the Pointers avenged a first-round loss in 2008 and knocked off St. Norbert 71-58. In the last final of the night, George Fox continued its dominance of NWC rival Puget Sound. The Bruins beat the Loggers 59-37 and held them to just 24 percent shooting from the field.