PITTSBURGH - The Stevenson women's basketball team relied on hot shooting and strong defense as they defeated fellow Middle Atlantic Conference member Misericordia, 82-65, on Friday in ECAC Division III quarterfinals at Skibo Gymnasium.
With the win, the Mustangs (19-9) advance to the ECAC Division III semifinals where they will face No. 1 seeded and host Carnegie Mellon.
Senior Sara Tarbert recorded her 29th straight double-double with 40 points and 12 rebounds. She went 17-23 from the floor, including 5-7 from behind the arc, as she posted the third 40-point game of her career. The streak ties Tarbert with Jillian Alleyne, Oregon (1/11/15-1/4/16) for fourth all-time in all three NCAA divisions for consecutive double-doubles.
After sophomore Jonyae Curry finished an old fashioned three pointer and Misericordia (19-9) responded with a pair of free throws, the senior duo of Kameron Ward and Tarbert each hit layups to give the Mustangs a 7-2 lead just over three minutes into play. Stevenson remained aggressive on both ends of the floor as it held Misericordia to just a single field goal from the floor and stretched its lead to double digits over the next three and half minutes.
After the teams traded buckets, Ward connected with Tarbert at the top of the key who hit her second three pointer of the game, giving the Mustangs a 19-6 advantage. Misericordia was able to hit a pair of jumpers, but Stevenson had three different scorers in the final two minutes to give the Mustangs a 25-12 advantage at the end of the first.
Stevenson picked up where they left off as it scored nine unanswered points in the first 2:03 of the second quarter to further extend its lead. The run was highlighted by four points from junior Imani Sanders and Tarbert's third three pointer of the game.
After a quick run of their own, the Cougars cut its deficit to 34-16 with just over seven minutes to play in the half, but Tarbert erased it with five points on Stevenson's next two possessions. The Mustangs maintained control through the period, as they held a 45-25 advantage at the break.
In the first half, Stevenson shot 59.4 percent off of 19-32 shooting, going 4-6 from behind the arc. Misericordia shot 30 percent from the floor off of 9-30 shooting. The Mustangs led 13-2 in points off of turnovers.
The Cougars opened the second half with a steal and elbow jumper as they slowly began to chip away at the Mustangs' lead. Justine Selly led Misericordia with six points to make it a 50-36 game just over four minutes into the second half, but Tarbert responded with her fifth three pointer of the game from deep in the left corner to slow Misericordia's run. Selly added seven more points for the Cougars, but four different Mustangs scored as they held onto a 62-45 lead at the end of the third.
Stevenson was hot on both ends to start the fourth as they forced two turnovers and took a 7-2 run, highlighted by a three pointer from freshman Hannah Crist, in 2:15 of play. After a 7-0 run midway through the quarter the Cougars were able to make it a 15 point game, but Stevenson did not let down as it took the win.
The Mustangs finished shooting 54.8 percent from the floor, compared to 40.6 percent for Misericordia. Each team totaled 10 turnovers, but Stevenson held a 22-12 advantage in points off of turnovers. The Cougars held a 40-30 rebounding advantage.
Curry joined Tarbert in double figures with 16 points, while Crist added nine Curry is averaging 15.5 ppg in two ECAC games thus far. Sanders totaled four points and four assists, while Ward dished out five assists.
Stevenson and Carnegie Mellon have not met since January 3, 2010, when the Mustangs posted a 63-61 win. Saturday's game features a pair of Josten's Trophy finalists in Tarbert and CMU's Lisa Murphy.