Lady Patriots survive poor shooting to advance to the semifinal of the NCCAA National Tournament
Final Score:   Mission University 70, Ohio Christian University 53
Location:  College of the Ozarks (Keeter Gymnasium) Point Lookout, Missouri
SPRINGFIELD, Missouri – The number 1 seeded Lady Patriots trailed for much of the first half against number eight Ohio Christian University, but shot better in the second half to prevail 70-53.  Mission shot 22 percent from the field in the first quarter compared to 56 percent by the Lady Trailblazers of Ohio Christian University.   The Lady Pats had several good looks at the basket, but could not sink most of their first quarter shots.  The Lady Trailblazers took a 9-4 lead midway through the first quarter.  MU tied the game 9-9 on a Josie Sullivan free throw, then 11-11, when Cassidy Hambelton made a layup with 3:30 to go in the opening period.  The Lady Trailblazers then went on a 13-5 run to finish the first quarter out in front, 24-16.  The OCU lead fluctuated from five to seven points for much of the first half of the second quarter, until a Heaven Shockley free throw brought the deficit down to 27-26 with 5:02 remaining in the first half.  The Lady patriots took their first lead over three minutes later, 28-27 on a Shockley layup.  The Lady Trailblazers retook the lead on a jumper with 1:12 to go, 29-28, but then Hambelton and Sullivan each hit shots to give the Lady Pats the lead at halftime, 32-29.
The third quarter began with the teams trading points, MU narrowly hanging on, until OCU tied the game at 37-37 at the 5:57 mark of the third period.  Nearly two minutes later, the Lady Trailblazers took the lead, 39-37.  Brooklyn Luna answered on the other end, followed by a Hambelton steal and assist to Luna for a basket to take the lead back, 41-39, with 3:41 to go in the third quarter.  With 2:09 remaining Shockley hit a turnaround jumper to boost the lead to 44-40.  OCU scored on their next possession, but left a wide-open Karlie Sampson for a three-pointer, 47-42, with a minute and a half to go.  Momentum had shifted as MU then scored four more points before the quarter ended to lengthen the margin to 51-42 with ten minutes to play.  After the teams traded buckets in the first minute of the fourth quarter, Mission University gradually pulled away, leading by as many as 21, 70-49, after back-to-back baskets by Luna, at the 2:19 mark.  Ohio Christian did manage two more baskets before the final buzzer as Mission moved on to the semifinal round with a 70-53 victory.  After a slow start, Heaven Shockley had a monster game, recording one of the biggest double-doubles of the university's history, 25 points and 17 rebounds.
HIGHLIGHTS

• Heaven Shockley, led the team with a double-double of 25 Points and 17 Rebounds.
• Cassidy Hambelton led the team in two categories; 7 Steals and 5 Assists.
• Other top rebounders were; Josie Sullivan 9, Ireland Jones 7, and Hambelton 7.
• The team committed just 8 turnovers compared to 21 by OCU.
• Shockley recorded 3 Blocks.
• Other players in double figures: Hambelton 16, and Brooklyn Luna 15 Points.

UP NEXT 
The Lady Patriots play in the semifinal round of the NCCAA National Tournament on the campus of the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri, Thursday afternoon, March 20, at 3:30 pm against the Asbury University Lady Eagles of Wilmore, Kentucky.  The Lady Eagles, the fifth seeded team, looked very impressive in dismantling number 4, Houghton University.