SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball earned its third national semifinal appearance in seven seasons Saturday with a 69-57 victory over No. 14-ranked Briar Cliff (Iowa) University in the NAIA Division II National Championship Quarterfinals at the Tyson Event Center in Sioux City, Iowa.

Indiana Wesleyan (33-3) advances to the semifinal game on Monday night at 9 p.m. ET against the winner of Morningside (Iowa) College and Bethel (Ind.) College.

Briar Cliff (25-10) entered play tonight as the seventh highest scoring team in the country with 80.8 points per game. The Chargers shot 43.4-percent on the season and averaged seven 3-pointers per contest. The patented Indiana Wesleyan defense defused the high-octane BCU offense to a season-low 57 points on 32.0-percent (16 of 50) shooting. Briar Cliff hit just three baskets from deep on 16 chances (18.8-percent).

“This win was a total team win for us,” said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Steve Brooks. “Our coaches were amazing last night. We were in there working on Briar Cliff until 3:30 in the morning working on a game plan. The assistant coaches did just a fantastic job putting us in a good position for today.”

The Wildcats pounded the chargers in the opening 20 minutes and took a 26-15 lead into halftime. IWU turned an 8-6 advantage into a 24-11 lead for the team’s largest lead of the half. The Wildcats nearly took a 13 point lead into half but an offensive rebound and a basket at the horn gave IWU a 26-15 lead at the break. That field goal for the Chargers was their first successful bucket in 12 minutes.

First half action featured four Wildcat starters in foul trouble with two apiece. Freshman guard Jessica Brown, sophomore center Val Sohasky, sophomore forward Teneil Krebs, and freshman guard Jessica Stewart all saw extended minutes in the first half.

“They did such an amazing job for us under pressure,” said Brooks about the play of his bench. “They really stepped up to the challenge and gave us an opportunity to step up and win the game.”

Including the two points to end the first half, Briar Cliff used an 11-0 run to get right back into the game early in the second half. The 11 unanswered points closed the deficit to 26-24 with 18:06 left. Over the next two minutes Indiana Wesleyan rebounded with five straight points to push the lead back to seven at 31-24.

The Chargers answered with a 10-3 spurt to tie the game at 34-34 with 11:54 on the clock. It was the first tie since the game was three minutes old. Just 20 seconds later the Chargers took the lead at 37-36.

Indiana Wesleyan replied with eight unanswered points for a 44-37 advantage. Leading the run was Sohasky with four of her nine points on a basket and two free throws.

Briar Cliff closed the deficit to a single possession at 47-44 with 5:50 to go in the game. But Indiana Wesleyan responded once again on the offensive end. Sophomore forward Katrina Blackmon hit one-of-two free throws to spark a 7-0 run that put IWU up 54-44 and less than four minutes remaining.

“It was a little nerve racking,” Brooks said about the Chargers second half run. “I think they got up by one but we got the lead back and went into the zone. I think that zone really messed them up and that enable us to get away from them again. I’m really thankful for these kids and their perseverance. We weathered the storm and hopefully we have another one in us on Monday.”

Blackmon’s free throw also started another streak for Indiana Wesleyan as the Wildcats scored at least one point over the team’s final 13 possessions. Gaining points each possession never allowed Briar Cliff to get any closer than nine points over the final three minutes.

“I was really pleased giving up just 15 points in the first half,” said Brooks. “In the second half we knew they were going to make a run. We made that possible for them with some silly mistakes but we got through it and gave ourselves a chance. We made big free throws at the right time”

Senior forward Paige Smith scored a game-high 25 points along with a game-best 12 rebounds for her sixth double-double of the season. The 25 points for Smith is the second highest total of her career.

“Paige got beat up last night,” stated Brooks. “For her to come back and give us 40 minutes today and play the way she did was a really good thing.”

Sohasky and junior guard Taylor Goshert each added nine points and Blackmon had eight. Indiana Wesleyan shot 53.5-percent (23 of 43) from the field and out-rebounded Briar Cliff 36-26.