Box Score
MIAMI, Fla. – Despite playing with only nine players, the fifth-seeded Warner University women’s basketball team went in to the half tied with no. 1 seed Northwood University before losing 50-41 in the Final Four of the Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament Friday afternoon in the Chester Robinson Center.
The Royals (12-18) showcased lockdown defense in the first half, holding the high-potent Seahawks (22-8) offense to a putrid 22.6% field goal percentage in the half, helping the short-staffed Royals go in to the break tied at 17 with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks were able to heat up in the second half, connecting on 42.9% of their shots in the half. Warner, however, did not shoot the ball relatively well in the half, shooting 28% from the floor but were able to stay within striking distance due to their free throws, as they hit 80% of their shots from the line in the half.
Warner’s defense held the Seahawks to one of their lowest scoring games of the season; holding them to well under their season average of 68.7 ppg entering yesterday’s postseason affair. However the deep rotation of the Seahawks proved too much for the Royals, eventually sealing the win to advance to the conference final against #2 seed St. Thomas.
Leading the Royals for the second consecutive game was senior Karyna Cid , who scored 12 points in the final game of her collegiate career while tying to lead the game with nine boards. She also had three steals. Cid closes her career at Warner with 767 career points, and a 7.4 ppg career average in 103 career games played. Christina Howard and Ivana Soberal also added eight points apiece.
Northwood’s Taylor Wencis led the game with 16 points.