Box Score
EPHRAIM, Utah - Eighth-ranked College of Southern Idaho women's basketball team held off a late charge by #9 Salt Lake to beat the Bruins 67-65 Saturday in the Region 18 Championship and advance to the NJCAA National Tournament.
The Bruins had an open three-point shot for the win which bounced off the rim with one second left. CSI led by eight with under six minutes remaining, but the Bruins were able to come back to tie the game at 61 with 2:31 to go on a three-point shot by Mercedes Riggs. CSI's
Holly Blades responded with a three of her own at 1:48 and
Zuleika Grinsell hit another three for CSI at 1:14 to put the Eagles up by four. After SLCC's Bella Swan cut the lead back to two with a layup the Bruins were forced to foul. But CSI's
Patrice Toston missed the front end of a one-and-one with ten seconds remaining setting up a three attempt by SLCC's Summer Yack with one second left that just missed.
Grinsell finished with 15 points for CSI and Toston and Blades both scored 14. Swan scored a game high 16 points for SLCC with Riggs adding 14 and Parsons 10.
Julia Dufurrena pulled down a game high 12 rebounds for CSI. The Eagles shot 41 percent from the floor including five for 13 from 3-point range. The Bruins finished at 35 percent from the field, but were only four for 24 (17 percent) on 3-pointers.
Golden Eagle
Holly Blades was named to the all-tournament team while
Patrice Toston earned MVP honors.
CSI (29-3) advances to the NJCAA Women's Basketball National Championship to be played Mar. 17 through 22 in Salina, Kan.
