SIOUX CITY, Iowa - (Box Score) Liz Grider sunk six free throws in the closing 1:10 to hold off a late comeback by Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) to lift Briar Cliff (Iowa) to a 62-53 quarterfinal win in the 19th Annual State Farm-NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship at the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena on Saturday.

The Chargers have appeared in three straight semifinal games, but it has been an eight year hiatus. Briar Cliff advanced in both 2001 and 2002, but were been absent from the championship field up until this season. Head coach Mike Power's team will take its 28-7 record into Monday's semifinal game against Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Northwestern (Iowa) at 8 p.m. The teams spilt in two previous games this season.

Cardinal Strich's season comes to a close with a record of 30-3. It was just the second time in 14 national championship appearances that the Wolves had advanced into the quarterfinals.

Briar Cliff held a nine-point lead on two occasions in the opening half, but Cardinal Stritch was able to chip away and Liz Neitzel's shot as time expired tied the game at 28-28 at the break. Low-shooting percentages limited both teams to under 37 percent from the field. Briar Cliff turned the ball over 16 times, with Beth Gilgenbach coming up with six steals.

The Chargers pushed its lead to double digits at the 10:04 mark on second-chance bucket Megan Salcedo to go up 11. That lead increased to 18 four minutes later on another second-change shot by Christa Stewart, putting Briar Cliff up 51-33. Cardinal Stritch got within eight points with just over three minutes remaining, but could not get the shot it needed to fall. The Wolves missed four field goals and saw Grider sink six free throws in the closing two minutes.

Grider finished the game with 19 points on five field goals and an 8-of-12 performance from the free-throw line. Salcedo registered a double-double on 15 points and pulled down a dozen boards, seven of which were on the offensive glass. Briar Cliff was 30 percent on 20-of-65 field goal attempts. In the battle of the boards, the Chargers dominated with 61 total rebounds to Cardinal Stritch's 37. Twenty-four offensive rebounds resulted in 15 second-chance points for Briar Cliff.

Three Wolves turned in double-figure scoring efforts, led by Michelle Stelloh's 17 points. Liz Neitzel finshed with 11 points and Brittney Daum scored 10. Renet Skorusa snagged 10 rebounds. Cardinal Stritch struggled from the floor, connecting on just 21-of-68 shot attempts, including just 5-of-28 from the 3-point line (.179).