Senior Megan Sellers

Box Score

The University of Findlay women’s basketball team advanced to the second round of the 2010 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament with a 54-51 win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Saturday, March 13 in Houghton, Michigan. The victory gives the Oilers a 22-8 record on the season.

The Oilers took a slim 26-25 lead at halftime and then had a battle with the Rangers in the second period as neither team could separate themselves from one another.

Tied 49-49 with 2:23 remaining, senior center Jessica Vorst scored on a jumper which was quickly matched by Wisconsin-Parkside’s Brittany Beyer on the ensuing possession.

At the 1:25 mark, sophomore guard Laura Bardall broke a 51-51 tie with a jumper of her own which was followed by a few failed possessions by both squads.

Needing a stop, the Oilers got one when senior forward Megan Sellers corralled a rebound and was sent to the line for free throws with only ten seconds remaining. Sellers made the front end and missed the back end to give the Rangers a shot at tying the game and sending it into overtime but their triple try was off the mark.

Bardall led the way with 13 points while senior guard Audra Mihalic had 12.

Vorst came off the bench to score eight points and collect five rebounds while Sellers had five points and eight boards.

As a team, Findlay shot 36.7 percent (22-of-60) from the floor but held the Rangers to a 33.3 percent (19-of-57) shooting clip.

Brittany Hogen led the Rangers with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The Oilers will be back in action again on Sunday, March 14 when they face top seeded Michigan Technological University at 4:00 p.m. in Houghton, Michigan for a chance to reach the Sweet 16.