SIOUX CITY, Iowa – No. 5-seed Indiana Wesleyan University women’s basketball ran into undefeated and No. 1-overall seed Southeastern (Fla.) in the NAIA Division II National Championship Round of 16. The top-ranked team ended the Wildcats’ season by an 83-63 outcome.

GAME VITALS

• NAIA DII National Championship - Round of 16
• Score:  Southeastern def. Indiana Wesleyan, 83-63
• Records:  Indiana Wesleyan 25-9   |   Southeastern 31-0
• NAIA Top- 25 Rank:  Indiana Wesleyan - No. 17   |   Southeastern – No. 1
• Championship Seed:  Indiana Wesleyan – No. 5   |   Southeastern – No. 1
• Location:   Gateway Arena   |   Tyson Events Center   |   Sioux City , Iowa

STAT TRACKER

• Anna Imhoff:  12 points, 4-12 3FG
• Brittany Washington:  7 points, 3 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals
• Nicole Ignasiak:  15 points
• Elaina Ededuwa:  9 points, 4-8 FG, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Carly Lange:  7 rebounds, 4 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Indiana Wesleyan fell behind 7-0 to start the game but came back to trail just 11-8.
• The next nine minutes saw a Southeastern 27-6 run to stretch their advantage to 38-14 midway through the second quarter.
• The Fire took a 48-21 lead into halftime.
• Indiana Wesleyan outscored Southeastern 16-13 in the third quarter and trailed 61-37 as the game went to the fourth. IWU also won the fourth quarter 26-22 and outscored SEU 42-35 in the final 20 minutes.
   

INSIDE THE BOXSCORE

• This was the first meeting between the two programs.
• Southeastern has won 29 of their 31 games by double digits. Only No. 11 Northwestern (Iowa) early in the season and #RV Cornerstone (Mich.) two days ago managed to lose to Southeastern by single digits.
• The Fire shot 67.9-percent (19 of 28) in the opening half and turned 10 Wildcat turnovers into 21 points.
• Anna Imhoff – playing her final game in a Wildcat uniform – was 4-of-12 from 3-point range. She ends the season with 100 3-pointers. Jennie Martin holds the single-season program record with 104 set in 2004-05.
• Indiana Wesleyan ended the season with 248 3-pointers, which is a new program record. The 1994-95 team held the previous record with 247.
   

COACH WHALEY SAYS…

• On Southeastern…
  “They were really good. They came out like the No. 1 team in the country. They came out and made shots and imposed their will. They really gave us problems in the paint and from the outside. They are a very talented and versatile team.”

• On a strong second half performance…
  “I felt we made some adjustments at half and we tightened up our approach defensively. On the offensive end we started attacking the paint and working inside-out. It worked to our advantage but when you dig a 27-point hole at half it is hard to dig out. I am proud of the way our girls fought in the second half.”

• On what made this team click this season…
  “I felt we were one of the most together teams this year. We lacked things but we were very together and we won a lot of ballgames because of that. That is what I am taking away from this season. Every time we faced adversity we found a way to overcome.”

• About seniors Anna Imhoff and Brittany Washington…
  “I cannot say enough about Brittany’s toughness and Anna’s unselfishness. They both led us this season and they complimented each other so well. Their leadership styles together brought unity. We are really going to miss them.”

NEXT TIME OUT

• Indiana Wesleyan ends their season at 25-9. IWU made the program’s 15th appearance at the NAIA National Championship and advanced to the Round of 16 for the 13th time.