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Queen Bees face tough test

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By staff report | Thursday, March 20, 2008 |

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — St. Ambrose easily passed its first exam in the NAIA Division II women’s basketball tournament late Wednesday night.

But the Queen Bees will be facing a more daunting test today at 5:45 p.m.

The Bees, who romped to a 77-58 victory over Southern Oregon on Wednesday at the Tyson Events Center, will come up against No. 2-ranked Morningside, which defeated them early in the season and has the added advantage of playing at home in Sioux City.

The Mustangs also cruised through the first round, collecting a 104-80 victory over Berea, Ky., College, the nation’s highest-scoring team.

Just as St. Ambrose got a huge game from freshman forward Ali Dolphin in its opening victory, Morningside got an equally monstrous effort from 6-foot sophomore Brittany Williamson.

Dolphin had a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds. Williamson had 30 points and 16 rebounds. It was the most points scored by a Morningside player this season with the previous being the 27 that Williamson scored Nov. 3 in a 76-65 conquest of St. Ambrose in Davenport.

Morningside (31-3) had a 27-game winning streak halted in its conference championship game last week but rolled to a 21-point halftime lead against Berea.

“Morningside is unquestionably the best team we’ve played this year,’’ Berea coach Bunky Harkleroad said. “They’re so good inside and outside. There’s just not many holes there.’’

St. Ambrose (29-5) had more going for it in its opener than just the 5-8 Dolphin. Sophomore guard Jenny Clark added 21 points in the victory and she and Dolphin each collected six steals as the Bees forced 25 turnovers.

The winner of tonight’s game advances to the quarterfinals Saturday at 6 p.m. It will face the winner of today’s second-round game between William Jewell and Minot State.