SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Northwestern College (Iowa) advanced to the semifinals defeating Cedarville University (Ohio), 77-76, Saturday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the 15^th annual NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. The 2006 event is being held at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena in Sioux City, Iowa.

Three different records fell or where tied in the game which featured two of the top scorers in the NAIA, Deb Remmerde of Northwestern and Brittany Smart of Cedarville. Smart set a new tournament record for points in a game with 47 and tied the mark for field-goals in a game with 17.

But it was Remmerde who hit the game winner with eight seconds left on the clock. Remmerde tallied 42 points in the game and set the record for three-point field goals made in a tournament. She currently has 20, eclipsing the old mark of 17 held by two different players.

Northwestern opened up an early lead, 13-6, after five minutes of play. But Cedarville chipped away at the lead, thanks in part to Smarts' 24 first-half points, to tie the game at 29 with 4:12 left in the half. The Yellow Jackets then went on a 9-0 to take their biggest lead of the game. Not to be out-done, the Red Raiders countered with an 11-2 run to tie the knot the game at 41 at the break.

In the second half the teams continued to trade scoring spurts. Northwestern opened up an eight point advantage 3:57 into the second half. Once again, Cedarville battled back, pulling even at 59 with 8:41 left in the game. Both teams opened up leads of as many as five points. But down the stretch it was Cedarville who held the advantage leading by three with 1:21 left.

Remmerde hit a pair of free throws to cut the Yellow Jackets lead to one with 60 seconds left. On the next possession Karah Walton was blocked by Miranda Boekhout of Northwestern. Emily Dilempo was able to grab the offensive rebound, one of her game high 13 caroms, but her shot caromed off and Boekhout grabbed the rebound. After a time out Remmerde dribbled down the left side and buried a jumper on the baseline with eight seconds left.

On the other end Smart dribbled through traffic into the lane and was called for an offensive foul with 1.5 seconds on the clock to end Cedarville's chance of a comeback. This marks the first time since 2003 that the Yellow Jacket will not play in the finals. They wrap up their season with a record of 29-4.

Both Remmerde and Smart finished with double-doubles. Smart had 11 boards while Remmerde had ten. No other players scored in double figures for either team.

Northwestern, in their fifth tournament appearance, moves on to the semifinals for the third time. The Red Raiders were national champions in 2001. Northwestern (30-4) will play the Hastings College (Neb.) in the 6:00 p.m. game on Monday, March 13. 

For more information on the Division II Women's Basketball National Championship log on to www.naia.org.

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