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.

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