BOX SCORE

NEWBERG, Ore. - The #9 Lewis & Clark women's basketball team picked up its first ever NCAA Division III National Tournament win on Friday night, taking down the Concordia (Texas) Tornados 83-65 in the first round hosted by George Fox University in Newberg, Ore.

Junior Kristina Williams led the way for the Pioneers with a career high 33 points, 18 of which she scored in the first half of action. Sara Villanueva finished the game with 18 points, finishing 5-of-7 from the floor, while being just as productive from the charity stripe. Senior Megan Spence was the strongest player off the boards, collecting a game-high nine rebounds.

Lashanda Luckey scored 18 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Tornados, and Christen McLee finished with 16 points.

Villanueva got the NCAA Tournament off to a start for the Pioneers, hitting the games first basket with 19:19 on the clock with a quick layup in the paint. Playing as the home team, the Pioneers were challenged by the Tornados throughout the first 10+ minutes of the first half. With 8:11 left to go in the first half of action, a Williams jumper tied the contest at 19-19.

The Pioneers began to hit their stride in the final five minutes of the game when a Neva Hauser layup put the team on top 25-23. The basket sparked the Pio offense who closed out the half on a dominating 17-3 run.

Ahead 42-26 coming out of the locker room the Pioneers never relinquished control of the scoreboard and much of the tempo of the game. A Villanueva jumper with 9:25 left to go in the game earned the Pioneers their first 20-point lead of the game. The Tornados would not get any closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

The win improves the Pioneers to 24-3 on the season, while moving them onto the second round of the tournament where they will face George Fox for the fourth time this season. Tip-off for the second round game will be at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Gym on the George Fox campus.

The Lewis & Clark Athletic Department will be giving away tickets to the first 100 Pioneer fans who show up at the game tomorrow.

Sixteen first and second-round sites will host games March 2-3. Second-round winners will advance to one of four sectional sites March 10-11.  Winners of the four sectional sites will advance to the national semifinals March 16-17. All games, except the final, will be played on the campuses of competing institutions. 

The final will be conducted at DeVos Fieldhouse on the campus of Hope College in Holland, Mich.

Second Round: vs. George Fox March 3, 2012 (7 p.m.)

Live Stats: http://athletics.georgefox.edu/livestats/index

Live Audio (KFOX): http://www.georgefox.edu/offices/asc/kfoxradio/

Live Video (Stretch Internet): http://athletics.georgefox.edu/video/videolist

Ticket Prices: $6 adults / $3 seniors & students & children 12+ 

All spectators are required to purchase tickets; there are no passes for NCAA Tournament events.

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