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SIOUX CITY, Iowa-- The Shawnee State University Bears will advance to the championship round of the NAIA National Tournament after defeating the Indiana Northwestern University Wildcats 55-54.

The Bears will play the winner of the 8 p.m. Northwestern College and Briar Cliff University game.

The score remained close in the first half with each team going basket for basket. With seven minutes remaining, the score was 15-14, Shawnee. In less than 30 seconds, the score was tied at 17.

In the first half, most of Shawnees points came from inside the paint, only hitting 2-5 behind the paint. IWU had made 6 out of 13 3-pointers by halftime.

As the half ended, the score was 24-30, IWU.

In the second half, the score remained close and the Wildcats led, 34-30, as the first timeout of the half was called with 15 minutes remaining.

Despite a short run by IWU, Shawnee closed the gap to 40-41, at 12:00. A basket by Alison Meyers put Shawnee in the lead, 50-49, with 4:33 remaining. IWUs Stephanie Burtch responded by hitting a 3-pointer in the following 30 seconds.

At 3:18, Shawnee Catrice Mitchell substituted into the game after Jill Cropper fouled out. Cropper ended the game with 10 points. Shawnees Abby Ballman hit a three-point shot with 49 seconds left to take the lead, 53-52. In the next possession, IWU Elaine Hessel pulled up for a field goal and regained the lead for the Wildcats, 54-53.

In Shawnees last trip down the court, Mitchell pulled down a defensive rebound and put the ball back up to score and grabbed the lead, 55-54. She was fouled, but missed the shot.

With 1.8 seconds remaining in the game, IWUs in bounds pass was knocked away and the Bears barely grabbed the win.

LeAnn Douglas led IWU in scoring with 13 points and Hessel followed with 12. Kayla Thompson pulled down five rebounds for the Wildcats.

Shawnee Mallory Albers scored 12 points and Cropper grabbed seven rebounds.