SIOUX CITY, IA. - 1-seed Indiana Wesleyan women's basketball advanced the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship Quarterfinals with a 77-46 victory over 2-seed Freed-Hardeman. The Wildcats were led by Maddie Lawrence and Lilli Frasure. Frasure led IWU with 22 points while Lawrence had 21 and hit five threes, four of which came in the second half after the Lions had taken the lead.  Indiana Wesleyan held FHU to just 7 points in the fourth quarter and scored 24 more points that the Lions allowed opponents on average this season.
 

THE ESSENTIALS

• Location: Sioux City, IA | Tyson Events Center
• Records: IWU: 33-2  | FHU: 28-5
• NAIA Seeding: IWU - #1 | FHU - #2

WHAT HAPPENED

• The teams traded baskets for much of the first quarter but a Taylor Folkema three and a free throw from Lilli Frasure put the Wildcats ahead by 4 after one.
• Both squads struggled from the field in the second frame with both scoring just 12 points, but the Lions grabbed momentum late by using a 9-3 run to cut the IWU lead to 4 at half.
• A quick 5-0 run by FHU to start the second half gave the Lions a 30-29 lead. Maddie Lawrence got the Wildcat offense back on track with the first of 4 second half triples. A 23-9 run the rest of the quarter pushed the Wildcat lead to 13 after the third.
• IWU outscored Freed-Hardeman 25-7 in the final frame, highlighted by back-to-back threes from Tori Thompson including a 4-point play. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 48: After Freed-Hardeman took the lead at 30-29, IWU used a 48-16 run over the final 18 minutes to secure the victory.
• 2: This marks the second time the Wildcats have reached the semifinals under Head Coach Ethan Whaley with the last appearance coming 2020-21.
• 5:  Maddie Lawrence hit a career high 5 threes to help spark the Wildcat offense.

KEY WILDCATS

• Lilli Frasure: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
• Maddie Lawrence: 21 points, 5-12 3PT, 4 rebounds, 2 steals
• Taylor Folkema: 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals

LOOKING AHEAD

• The Wildcats play the winner of 3-seed Briar Cliff and 5-seed Governors State at 8:00 PM on Monday in Tyson Events Center.
• Links for video and live stats will be available at IWUWildcats.com

FOLLOW THE WILDCATS

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