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The NCAA News -- March 29, 1999

North Dakota captures third straight crown

North Dakota claimed its third consecutive Division II Women's Basketball Championship March 20 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, behind two-time Division II Player of the Year Jenny Crouse's 24 points and 12 rebounds.

The Sioux defeated Arkansas Tech, 80-63, to become the second team in Division II women's basketball history to win three consecutive national championships.

Crouse was named the championship's most outstanding player, while teammates Katie Richards and Jamie Pudenz were named to the all-tournament team.

"Winning championships isn't about great players having good games," North Dakota head coach Gene Roebuck said. "It is about somebody you don't expect stepping up to put you over the top. We had a few of those."

Crouse scored the opening basket in the game, but Arkansas Tech led by as many as six points in the first half, shooting 47 percent from the field. The defending champions rallied to take a four-point lead at the half with two free throws from Crouse just before the break.

The Sioux held the Golden Suns to 33 percent shooting in the second half and went on a 10-0 run late to win going away.

"I don't think there was any extra pressure more than that in the games throughout the year," Arkansas Tech senior Khelli Mullensaid. "I'm glad we had the opportunity to play (North Dakota) today, so we can see what it's going to take to win it next time."

Mullen, who was named to the all-tournament team, tallied 13 points, five rebounds and four assists while teammate A. J. Thomas posted 16 points.

It was the second straight year that Arkansas Tech had made an Elite Eight appearance. The Golden Suns advanced to the final with a win over Montana State-Billings in the quarterfinals, 68-56, and a semifinal win over Northern Kentucky, 62-57, on March 18.

North Dakota won its opening game in Pine Bluff against Kennesaw State, 96-69, and won a rematch of the 1998 championship game over Emporia State in the semifinal round, 87-81.

Emporia State's Jurgita Kausaite also was named to the all-tournament team.

SEMIFINALS

North Dakota 87, Emporia St. 81

Emporia St.: Jurgita Kausaite 10-21, 3-3, 17, 23; Jennifer Perine 0-2, 4-4, 3, 4; Sarah Wells 3-5, 0-0, 2, 8; Ali Sprague 1-4, 0-0, 2, 2; Emily Bloss 5-16, 2-3, 8, 13; La'Tonya Kindle 4-11, 2-3, 1, 11; Tara Holloway 7-14, 6-8, 10, 20. TOTALS: 30-73, 17-21, 44, 81.

North Dakota: Jaime Pudenz 5-13, 2-4, 3, 16; Tonia Jones 3-6, 2-4, 2, 8; Jenny Hoffner 0-5, 0-0, 3, 0; Katie Richards 10-23, 1-2, 5, 26; Jenny Crouse 8-11, 6-9, 14, 22; Casey Carroll 1-5, 3-4, 3, 5; Kami Winger 4-9, 2-7, 14, 10. TOTALS: 31-72, 16-30, 47, 87.

Half time: North Dakota 47, Emporia St. 41. Three-point field goals: Emporia St. 4-16 (Kausaite 0-3, Perine 0-1, Wells 2-4, Bloss 1-3, Kindle 1-5); North Dakota 9-21 (Pudenz 4-7, Hoffner 0-3, Richards 5-11). Disqualifications: Richards. Officials: Margaret Lynch, Patty Fernandez, Kathy Jenkins. Attendance: 1,514.

Arkansas Tech 62, Northern Ky. 57

Northern Ky.: Julie Stanley 0-4, 1-5, 7, 1; Michele Tuchfarber 5-17, 4-7, 5, 15; Katie Kelsey 2-5, 3-4, 2, 9; Michelle Cottrell 9-14, 0-0, 4, 18; Shannon Smith 6-7, 2-2, 6, 14; Jessica Jenson 0-3, 0-0, 1, 0; Kris Kamrath 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Shannon Roddy 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 22-50, 10-18, 26, 57.

Arkansas Tech: Mindy Lasater 5-14, 5-8, 1, 18; Mandi Huskey 0-1, 0-0, 3, 0; Angie Harris 2-8, 1-2, 9, 5; Laura Buss, 5-8, 0-0, 2, 10; Khelli Mullen 5-11, 1-3, 12, 14; A. J. Thomas 5-7, 5-7, 2, 15; Kris Hodges 0-0, 0-0, 2, 0; Crystal Compton 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 22-49, 12-20, 33, 62.

Half time: Arkansas Tech 27, Northern Ky. 24. Three-point field goals: Northern Ky. 3-10 (Stanley 0-2, Tuchfarber 1-3, Kelsey 2-3, Jenson 0-2); Arkansas Tech 6-15 (Lasater 3-10, Mullen 3-5). Disqualifications: Cottrell. Officials: Frank Holley, Sheri Kaminski, Arthur Williams. Attendance: 1,514.

CHAMPIONSHIP

North Dakota 80, Arkansas Tech 63

Arkansas Tech: Mindy Lasater 4-11, 0-0, 2, 10; Mandi Huskey 2-9, 1-2, 5, 5; Angie Harris 5-9, 1-1, 3, 11; A. J. Thomas 7-10, 2-2, 3, 16; Khelli Mullen 6-18, 1-1, 5, 13; Laura Buss 4-11, 0-2, 7, 8; Kris Hodges 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0; Kelly Compton 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Crystal Compton 0-1, 0-0, 0, 0. TOTALS: 28-70, 5-8, 27, 63.

North Dakota: Jaime Pudenz 4-9, 6-6, 4, 14; Tonia Jones 5-9, 2-6, 3, 12; Jenny Hoffner 3-5, 0-0, 1, 8; Katie Richards 4-8, 2-2, 6, 13; Jenny Crouse 11-18, 2-5, 12, 24; Kami Winger 1-4, 3-4, 17, 5; Casey Carroll 2-4, 0-0, 0, 4; Missy Leno 0-0, 0-0, 0, 0; Krissi Super 0-0, 0-0, 1, 0; Rachel Hoffman 0-1, 0-0, 1, 0. TOTALS: 30-58, 15-23, 49, 80.

Half time: North Dakota 41, Arkansas Tech 37. Three-point field goals: Arkansas Tech 2-11 (Lasater 2-5, Huskey 0-3, Mullen 0-2, Buss 0-1); North Dakota 5-11 (Pudenz 0-3, Hoffner 2-4, Richards 3-4). Disqualifications: None. Officials: Margaret Lynch, Patty Fernandez, Kathy Jenkins. Attendance: 3,135.