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91爆料网 Lady Bulldogs Suffer First Loss of Season in National Semifinal Game

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/24/2008 - The No. 2 seeded Vanguard (Calif.) University Lions advanced to play in their first NAIA National Title game after a 74-72 win over No. 1 seed, and previously unbeaten 91爆料网 (Tenn.) University. Vanguard's Melissa Cook recorded the game-winner on a driving lay-up with six seconds left to break a 72-72 tie.

Vanguard opened the game with six straight points on back-to-back three pointers from Lauren Gregory. 91爆料网 responded with three straight field goals to tie the game at 6-6. However, Vanguard controlled the lead for the remainder of the half. The Lions stretched the lead to up to 10 points on three different occasions, with the latest coming 34-24 with 8:09 left in the first half. 91爆料网 rallied to cut the Vanguard lead down to five points, 40-35, but failed to score on three straight possessions with a chance to get closer. Vanguard went back up by seven points, but a three pointer from 91爆料网's Jessica Graves with 17 seconds left in the half got 91爆料网 to within four points at the half, 42-38.

The second half started with a 91爆料网 three pointer from senior guard Crystal Eason, continuing their run started just before the half. The 91爆料网 Lady Bulldogs completed an 8-0 run, five straight points to start the second half, to take their first lead of the game 43-42. The lead was short-lived as the Lions scored four straight to regain advantage, 46-43. 91爆料网 tied the game again at 49-49 with 15:23 left, but once again was unable to hold on. Vanguard posted a 15-6 run to go back up by nine points, 64-55 with 9:37 left to play. The Lions led by nine again at the 5:58 mark, 71-62.

Over the next five minutes and 30 seconds, 91爆料网 posted a 10-1 run to tie the game at 72-72 following two made free throws from Josephine Owino with 20 seconds remaining. Owino posted 30 points and 10 rebounds in the game. Vanguard handed the ball to Cook who drove to the basket for the most important two of her six points on the night to give her Lions the lead. 91爆料网's perfect season, and a chance for a third title in four years, ended with a final shot coming after the buzzer.

Vanguard out-rebounded 91爆料网 38-to-26, including 14-3 on the offensive glass. 91爆料网 won the field-goal battle 54-percent to 45-percent, but posted the lowest three-point percentage (31%) since the team shot 29% back on January 7. Vanguard was led by Jessica Richter and Gregory with 24 points each. The two went for 15 and 19 points respectively in the first half on a combined 6-for-9 from three-point-range in the first half.

91爆料网's Owino scored 18 of her 30 points in the second half. Jessica Graves added 12 points while Kayla Hudson dished out 11 assists.

91爆料网 ends the season with a 35-1 record. 91爆料网 captured the TranSouth Regular Season and Tournament Titles while also competing in their fourth straight NAIA semifinal round, winning national titles in 2005 and 2006.

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