Bartlesville, Okla. – the Southwestern Christian University women's basketball team defeated Central Baptist College 66-54 in the first round of the NCCAA Women's Basketball Regional Tournament on Thursday night.  Vanessa Bledsoe led the way for the Lady Eagles with 19 points against the Lady Mustangs shooting 7-13 from the field overall.  Senior Porchea Sanders added 16 points, seven assist, and pulled down seven rebounds while sophomore Jordan Gooch tallied 10 points and nine boards for the Lady Eagles. 

With the win, the Lady Eagles advance to the second round of the single-elimination tournament hosted by Oklahoma Wesleyan University.

Southwestern Christian will take on cross street rivals and number one seed of the tournament Southern Nazarene University in the semi-finals tonight at 6 pm.

Three Lady Eagle's basketball players from the 2012-2013 squad were recognized this week for their outstanding performances this season.  Ciara Thomas, Porchea Sanders, and Jordan Gooch were all three named Honorable Mention for the All-MCAC Team.

Thomas was also one of ten selected as a member of the NCCAA All-Central Region Team.

Thomas a five-foot-eight senior guard led the team in scoring with 14 points and five rebounds per game.  Sanders, a five –foot-five senior averaged ten points and five assist a game.  Sophomore forward Jordan Gooch averaged seven boards per game while tacking on an average of ten points. 

The SCU Lady Eagles entered the weekend without the services of post player Jordan Gooch, and playing with two starters battling knee injuries.

On Friday night against #17 ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan, you could tell from the outset the Lady Eagles were in for a long night. OKWU came out shooting the ball well and finished the night shooting 40 percent from the three point line and knocking down 17 of 18 free throws. This game was never in question and saw OKWU run away with at 78-38 victory. Kim Hayes and Ciara Thomas paced the Eagles scoring 8 points each.