HICKORY, N.C. – No. 6-seed Parkland Women's Basketball (18-3) was down at the half but used a suffocating defense to pull away from No. 11-seed Muskegon CC (13-3) in the Sweet Sixteen of the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. The Cobras will play No. 14-seed Union County College (14-3), out of New Jersey, in the Elite Eight on Wednesday, April 21, at 7:00 pm ET (6:00 pm CT).
 
Parkland scored the first four points of the game, but Muskegon went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-4 lead. Not to be outdone, the Cobras responded with their own 9-0 run, and the lead at the end of the first quarter was 15-11. Unfortunately, Parkland's biggest inside threat, Naomi McDaniel (17 points, 13 rebounds), picked up her second foul and headed to the bench.
 
In the second quarter, the Jayhawks chipped away at the lead, tying the game, at 20, and then taking the lead, 20-21, with 4:33 on the first-half clock. Muskegon led by three a couple of times, but it was only one, 24-25, at the halftime buzzer.
 
Parkland scored first after the break and maintained a small lead throughout much of the third period, extending it to six, 39-33, as the clock wound down.
 
In the fourth, the Cobras locked down on the defensive end and continued a 21-2 run that put them in control 56-35 with 3:40 to play. In the final minutes, the teams traded a couple of baskets, leaving a final margin of twenty-one.
 
Despite early foul trouble, McDaniel, who notched her sixth double-double on the season, led both teams in scoring and rebounding. Peyton Crowe (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) also scored in double digits, as she, Bree Trimble (8 points, 6 rebounds) and Mady Harper (5 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 2 assists) each hauled in six rebounds. Harper contributed in all facets of the game, while Ariana Booker chipped in with 4 assists on the offensive end.
 
The Cobras limited Muskegon to only 12 points and 15% shooting in the second half and dominated the boards, 47-33. The Parkland bench stepped up in a huge way, contributing 21 points and 18 rebounds.
 
All National Tournament games may be viewed at: NJCAA Network
For full championship information, visit: NJCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship