Greenville Women To Play For NCCAA Tourney Championship

The Greenville College women's basketball team will play for the NCCAA National Championship Saturday after defeating the tournament's top seed Roberts Wesleyan 78-72 Thursday.

The game was tied 12-12 after the first quarter, and Greenville trailed 31-28 at halftime.

The Panthers began to change the direction of the game in the third quarter after they found themselves staring at a 10 point 41-31 deficit with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.  Greenville went on a 25-9 run to reach an eight point lead with 7:51 left in the game.

During this run, Greenville held a 50-47 lead after three quarters.

NCAA Division II Roberts Wesleyan took a 66-65 advantage with 3:18 left on the clock.  Immediately thereafter, Laura Goodnight was fouled after making her shot and put the lead back in favor of Greenville by two points after converting the free throw.

Meredith Crosier hit a three-pointer to give GC a 71-66 lead with just over two minutes to go and Roberts Wesleyan would never get any closer than four points.

Crosier was the leading scorer for Greenville with 18 points. Goodnight provided 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals. Claire Schmitt gave Greenville 12 points and five assists. Effingham High School graduate Jantzen Michael played 20 minutes, connecting on one of five field goals and four of four at the free throw line for six points. She also had two rebounds and one assist.

Taylor Paulin left the game with a shoulder injury but came back in the third quarter to make two three-pointers during Greenville's run and ended with nine points.

The win improved Greenville's record to 22-9 and allowed them to pull into a tie for the most wins in a season in women's basketball history.  The Panthers will play in the National Championship game at 4 p.m. Saturday against the winner of the Mid-America Christian and Emmanuel game.