March 2, 2006

Box Score

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Lewis University's one-two punch of Darcee Schmidt and Mary Moskal combined for 35 points and 22 rebounds, but Nicole Dierking's impressive second-half performance powered Missouri-Rolla to a 68-55 upset victory over the Flyers Thursday night in a Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship tournament quarterfinal game.

Schmidt scored 20 points and collected a game-high and personal career-best 15 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Moskal tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Flyers (18-10), who suffered a third consecutive defeat.

Dierking stole the show after intermission, scoring all 21 of her points as Missouri-Rolla (17-10) outscored the Flyers 39-24 in the second stanza. She was 8-of-11 overall and 3-of-4 from 3-point distance during the final 20 minutes.

Dierking also had 10 rebounds, and teammate Deosha Agnew grabbed a team-high 13 boards as the Miners earned a 48-37 advantage on the glass.

Both teams enjoyed a five-point lead in the first half. The game was tied for a fifth time before Jenna Mooberry (Byron, Ill./Byron)'s basket at the 1:16 mark gave the Flyers a 31-29 halftime edge.

Lewis hit two quick second-half buckets to build its largest cushion, 35-29. Missouri-Rolla answered by scoring the next seven points to go on top 36-35.

Following consecutive baskets by Moskal and Shante Glenn that put the Flyers in front 41-38, Missouri-Rolla assembled an 11-2 run that put the Miners ahead to stay. Lewis closed to within three points on two occasions, but Missouri-Rolla's 10-3 spurt gave the Miners a 62-52 lead and firm control with 3:21 to play.

Glenn scored eight points and led all players with four steals, while Brittney Diener contributed five rebounds and three assists. Katie McElrath and Jaime Forsberg scored 14 and 12 points, respectively, for Missouri-Rolla, which advanced to play the Drury-Kentucky Wesleyan winner in Saturday's semifinals.

The Flyers, ranked No. 6 in the Great Lakes Region, now await a possible NCAA Division II Championship invitation. The top eight teams in each of eight regions comprise the 64-team field that will be announced Sunday night.