San Antonio, Texas – The No. 10 Dowling
College women's basketball team advanced to the NCAA Division II
National Championship game with a 76-54 win over the Vikings of
Augustana College (S.D.) Wednesday evening.
Three Golden Lions (30-3) finished in double figures with Connie
Simmons scoring a game high of 24 points. Simmons added six assists
and six rebounds. Danielle Wilson posted a double double of
18 points and 10 rebounds and Nicole Caggiano pitched in with
13.
Dowling took their first lead, 6-5, following two free throws from
Verrelle, sparking five lead changes over the next four minutes of
play. Simmons found Wilson down low putting DC back up 14-13
and then the senior guard put a bucket in herself at the 12:28 mark
for a three point DC advantage. AU's Riley Nordgaard grabbed
an offensive rebound and with the put back the Vikings were back
within one, 16-15. Simmons again dished the ball, this time
to Nicole Caggiano down low for two starting a 6-0 run for the
Golden Lions, 22-15.
Caggiano drained a three from the top of the key at the 8:07
mark to give the Golden Lions their largest lead to that point,
28-20. Offensive threat Faith Tinklenberg hit from down low,
but Dowling answered with a three from Julia Koppl and just before
the shot clock buzzer, Wilson got the roll in to bring the lead to
double figures, 33-22, with just over five minutes left in the
half. Ahead 36-27 and with the last possession of the half,
Simmons dropped in a three from the top of the key sending the
Golden Lions into the break leading 39-27.
Dowling shot 55.6% from the field in the first frame with Wilson
leading all players on the court with 16 points.
Almost two minutes into the second half, Verrelle opened the
scoring with a bucket from the outside. The Golden Lion lead
reached 16, 46-30, with two free throws from Wilson at the 16:13
mark. Dowling's top ranked defense then went to work,shutting
down the Viking's first half top scorer Tinklenberg for the first
6:45 of the half. After a two minute scoring drought, Simmons
made one of two at the free throw line for a 53-35 advantage. An
offensive rebound by Verrelle kept the ball in DC's possession and
a Simmons' jumper extended the lead to 20, 55-35. Cagginao
knocked down five straight for the Golden Lions to go up 66-43 and
back to back blocks by Wilson put the ball back in Dowling's hands
with 7:28 on the clock. With less than four minutes to
go, Wilson, this time found Simmons down low for an easy layup and
a 64-46 advantage. Simmons then went on to put in five more
and a three from Caggiano put Dowling ahead by their largest margin
72-47. The Vikings could not manage to get anything going in the
final minutes as the Golden Lions earned the program's first trip
to the NCAA National Championship Game. Dowling also becomes the
first team in East Coast Conference women's basketball history to
advance to the final.
Dowling finished shooting a season high 57.1% from the field (28
for 49) and held the Vikings to 26.9%. The Golden Lions held
a 47-29 edge on the glass and a 32-14 advantage in the paint.
Augustana's Tinklenberg finished with 21 points to lead the
Vikings.
The Golden Lions will face the winner of No. 2 Ashland University
and No. 5 Western Washington Friday, March 29th at 8:00 p.m.
eastern time.
Provided by the Dowling Sports Information Department.
