Courtesy of Lincoln University Sports Information Office

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (February 23, 2007) - Top-seeded Mitchell College used a big second half burst to defeat fourth seeded Saint Joseph's (Maine), 66-57, in the semifinals of the Association of Division III Independents Northeast Regional Women's Basketball tournament Friday night at Lincoln University's Manuel Rivero Hall.

Mitchell (16-10) overall ran its winning streak to 12 games and advanced to the AD3I championship game for the second consecutive season. The Pequots will face either No. 2 seed Lincoln or No. 3 Maine-Presque Isle in the title game beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Saint Joseph's (10-15) will play in the consolation contest beginning at Noon.

Mitchell senior guard Alva Jeffreys led all scorers with 24 points. Senior Shayna Barnes finished with 15 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore forward Ashley Hansen notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Hansen also finished with a team-high five steals. Sophomore guard Shakeya Evans added 10 points and five assists for Mitchell.

Saint Joseph's had three players finish with 11 points: Carolyn Freeman, Megan Farrrell and Marie Lint. Alysn Ludwig grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Monks.

Mitchell used a 21-4 burst over a seven-minute stretch of the second half to take control the game. Mitchell held a slim, 39-35 lead with 14 minutes, six seconds remaining after the Monks' Freeman scored. It was all Mitchell from there.

Evans began the game-altering burst with a pair of foul shots. Then, Hansen split a pair of foul shots, Jeffreys made a layup and Evans scored off of a no-look pass from Jeffreys for a 46-36 lead. Amazingly during the run, Jefferys, who scored 19 points in the first half, scored one basket. The Pequots got contributions from Hansen, Barnes and Evans during the run. After Saint Joseph's closed to 53-39, the Pequots scored seven straight points to open their largest advantage of the game, 60-39.

The Monks did not go quietly. Consecutive 3-pointers from Freeman and Meg Willette pulled the Monks to within, 65-56, with 1:08 remaining. Ludwig made a foul shot to pull the Monks one point closer, 65-57, with 47 seconds remaining. That would be as close as Saint Joseph's would get.

Saint Joseph's led once, 2-0, on a Farrell jumper early in the game. Mitchell took the lead for good, 6-5, on a Hansen foul shot with 15:02 remaining in the opening half. The Pequots stretched their advantage to as many as eight points (18-10) with 7:50 remaining in the first half before settling for a 28-22 halftime lead.

This was the second time this season, Mitchell defeated Saint Joseph's. Mitchell claimed a 66-63 decision over Saint Joseph's on January 13 in Standish, Maine.