The Charger women's basketball team advances to the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament's final site for the second straight year behind a complete team performance in the 71-60 victory over the Lewis-Clark State Warriors Saturday inside the Newman Flanagan Center.

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FINAL | Briar Cliff 71, Lewis-Clark State 60#BattleOn pic.twitter.com/DO9iTHoFPN

— Briar Cliff Athletics (@bcuchargers) March 15, 2025

 

Briar Cliff's reserves played a pivotal role in the contest, as Kenna Mongan, Brooklyn Heineman, and Taylor Sodeman played extended minutes. Mongan finished with 15 points and shot five-for-nine from the floor and went three-for-four from long range. Sodeman added nine points and grabbed two rebounds while recording a steal. Brooklyn Heineman finished with four points, five rebounds, and recorded three steals.
 
In the first quarter, the Chargers held the Warriors to just four points and held a 13-4 lead heading into the break. The Warriors in the second outscored the Chargers 26-13 to take a 30-26 lead heading into the break.
 
After trading baskets in the beginning of the third, the Warriors took a 41-35 lead following a three from Ellie Sander. With the Chargers dealing with foul trouble, Briar Cliff leaned on their bench midway through the third.  Heineman was the spark plug for the Chargers, drilling a three with 1:20 remaining in the quarter to cut into the Warrior lead. Grace Flanagan recorded a steal and dished it to Mallie McNair for the layup to cut the lead to one.
 
The Chargers opened the final frame with a 9-3 run capped off by a bucket from Sodeman and a three from Mongan to put the Chargers up 49-46. With 2:40 remaining in the contest, Flanagan knocked down a three to put Briar Cliff up by eight. A pair of free throws shortly after from Kennedy Benne increased the lead to 10. After a pair of free throws from the Warriors, Benne knocked down a three off an assist from Heineman to give Briar Cliff an 11-point lead with 1:43 remaining.
 
Benne paced the Chargers with 16 points and recorded five steals while going nine-for-12 from the charity stripe. McNair finished with 14 points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.


 
The Chargers move to 28-5 on the season and will head to the Tyson Event Center this Friday in Sioux City, Iowa to take on Mid-America Christian.
   
 
 
 
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