CHICAGO -- Julie Muguira led four Maroons in double figures with 14 points as the University of Chicago defeated Monmouth College 75-68 in the opening round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Friday night at the Ratner Athletics Center.

With the victory, the Maroons (26-0) advanced to Saturday's second round against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (21-6). The Blugolds got past Simpson College 69-61 in Friday's first game.

Game Summary

• Chicago never trailed in the contest. The Maroons jumped out to a 14-4 lead seven minutes into the game and maintained at least an eight-point edge the rest of the period.
  
  
• Chicago held a double-digit lead for the final 5:11 of the first half before going into the intermission with a 36-23 advantage.
  
  
• Muguira (pictured above) scored eight of her team-high 14 points in the first nine minutes of the second stanza to help give the Maroons their largest lead of the night, 59-39, at the 11:44 mark.
  
  
• Chicago remained on top by double digits until a layup by Monmouth's Kaley Corban with :34 to go trimmed the Maroons' lead to 71-63.
  
  
• The Maroons answered with a pair of free throws from Joann Torres four seconds later to seal the victory.

Statistical Highlights

• Muguira was 4-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 4-of-4 from the foul line en route to her career-high 14 points.
  
  
• Torres finished with 12 points, while Taylor Simpson and Herrick added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
  
  
• Chicago matched its season high with nine blocked shots. Herrick rejected three shots, while Christiane Murray and Hannah Ballard each blocked a pair.
  
  
• Monmouth's Haley Jones led all scorers with 17 points. Marla Willard (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Zipporah Williams (14 points, 10 rebounds) both notched double-doubles.
  
  
• Chicago outshot the Scots (16-10) 44% to 34% and held a 43-39 edge on the boards.

Notes

• Friday's game marked the Maroons' first NCAA tournament contest in the Ratner Center.
  
  
• Chicago won an NCAA first-round game for the second straight year and improved to 3-1 in postseason opening-round action under Head Coach Aaron Roussell.
  
  
• Chicago improved to 5-0 against Monmouth. The Scots were the Maroons' opponents in their first game in the Ratner Center in 2003.
  
  
• The Maroons won for the 47th time in their last 48 games dating back to last season.
  
  
• Chicago extended its homecourt winning streak to 26 games. The Maroons have won 33 of their last 34 games at the Ratner Center.
  
  
• Chicago won for the 54th straight occasion when leading at halftime.

Up Next

• Saturday's second-round game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire is set to tip off at the Ratner Center at 7 p.m. The winner moves on to the Division III Sweet Sixteen the following weekend.