The Charger women's basketball team earned a tough 65-61 win against the Spring Arbor Cougars in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament Friday evening. Three Chargers scored in double figures in the contest.
 
In the opening quarter, The Cliff jumped out to a 9-2 lead following a Mallie McNair bucket. A three from Grace Flanagan along with a basket from Adrianna Webster put BCU up 14-6.
 
Opening the second quarter, BCU went on a 6-2 run to lead by 13. Taylor Sodeman knocked down a pair of three pointers and gave Briar Cliff a boost off the bench. The Chargers led by 15 heading into intermission.
 
Spring Arbor erased the deficit in the third quarter, a three from Bailey Vissman tied the game at 44-44 with 1:26 remaining in the contest. A basket from McNair and a three from Flanagan with one second left gave BCU a five-point lead heading into the final frame.
 
Flanagan kicked off the scoring in the fourth with another three off an assist from McNair. The Cougars battled back and cut the Charger lead to one midway through the quarter. A tough basket in the paint from Sodeman gave BCU a four-point lead with 2:07 remaining. Flanagan and McNair sank their free throw attempts in the final moments to give BCU the win.
 
The Chargers held the Cougars to 33% shooting from the field and 19% from beyond-the-arc. The Chargers won the rebound margin 41-39.
 
Adrianna Webster stuffed the stat sheet for the Chargers, posting a double-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks, and two steals. Flanagan paced the Chargers with 16 points and went four-for-eight from long range. McNair finished with 14 points and grabbed five rebounds.
 
The Chargers improve to 27-5 and advance to the second round of the National Tournament and will take on Lewis-Clark State tomorrow at 4 p.m. inside the Newman Flanagan Center.
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