Boxscore and play-by-play

Katie Warehime scored 30 points including a key three-pointer late in the game to lead Shepherd to a come-from-behind 74-66 win over Mount Olive and a berth in the Division II East Region championship game.

The Rams (24-6) used an 18-0 run in the second half to erase an 11-point deficit and earn a date with California in Monday night's title game at Memorial Field House in Indiana, Pa. 

Warehime hit 10 of 17 field goal attempts including all three of her three-point tries and added nine rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.  She was joined in double figures in scoring by Carrie Saunders with 11 and Laura Harkins with 10.  Saunders also connected on three from long distance, and the Rams were 9 of 15 from beyond the arc as a team.

Shepherd overcame 22 turnovers by holding Mount Olive to 34.2 percent shooting for the game.  The Trojans, who like Shepherd were making their first appearance in the NCAA tournament, finished its season with a record of 21-11.  Mount Olive had upset No. 1 seed and host IUP in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Lakeisha Monroe led Mount Olive with 21 points, with 15 coming on five three-pointers.  Alisa Jones had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds while Keona Corley contributed eight points and eight assists.

A three-pointer by Monroe gave the upstart Trojans a 46-35 lead with 14:24 remaining in the game, but the Shepherd defense forced Mount Olive to miss its next 10 shots from the field as well as two free throws while committing four turnovers during the Shepherd comeback.

A layup by Warehime off her own offensive rebound and a subsequent free throw for a three-point play started the decisive surge for the Rams.  Warehime scored a total of eight points during the run before Saunders put Shepherd ahead with a layup at the 10:08 mark.  Three-pointers by Saunders and Nylia Zamora capped the rally that ended with the Rams in front 53-46 with 7:41 remaining.

Mount Olive would not let go of its championship hopes easily, getting back to within one twice and trailed only 65-63 with 1:41 remaining.  But a three-pointer by Warehime with 1:18 to go gave the Rams some breathing room, and Shepherd survived a three-point shot by Monroe with 1:05 to go, hitting all six of its free throws in the final 14 seconds. 

<back to top>