Tommies outlast Northwestern in D-III opener

Tyler Nicolai's three-pointer helped spark a game-closing 16-5 run, and St. Thomas held off UMAC champion Northwestern (Roseville) 70-60 in the first round of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament on Friday night in St. Paul.

Northwestern, playing in its first NCAA tournament, led for much of the game, but the MIAC champion Tommies (25-3) -- the No. 8 team in the D-III poll -- caught up in the second half. The teams traded leads before Teddy Archer's post-up move gave St. Thomas a 56-55 lead.

Nicolai -- who scored all 17 of his points in the second half -- then made a three for a 59-55 lead, and the Tommies extended their lead thanks to 17 offensive rebounds. The Eagles (21-7) also committed 14 turnovers against the St. Thomas press.

St. Thomas plays host to Illinois Wesleyan, an 83-76 winner over Wisconsin-River Falls, on Saturday.

WomenSimpson 59, Concordia (Moorhead) 56: Stacey Schutjer made a tiebreaking layup with 55 seconds to go, finishing with 16 points and 20 rebounds as the Storm (22-6) beat the Cobbers (21-7) in Stevens Point, Wis.

Concordia trailed by 14 with 11 minutes to go but tied it at 1:16 when Erica Nord hit the second of two free throws.

With Simpson leading 57-56 and less than 30 seconds left, Concordia's Brittany Jossart came up short on a layup attempt and the Storm's Kate Nielsen brought down the rebound. Nielsen missed the front end of a 1-and-1, but Mindy Hutchcroft grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled with 14 seconds left.
Hutchcroft hit both free throws, and Concordia missed two tying three-point attempts on its final possession as time expired.

Coe 78, Minnesota-Morris 53: Sarah Anciaux scored 15 points, Devvin Rolston added 14 and the host Kohawks (25-3) shot 57.6 percent from the floor to rout the Cougars (21-7) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.