Molly Musland and Concordia-Moorhead overcame Johns Hopkins' pressure and advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1993. Photo by Concordia-Moorhead athletics

Chicago and Concordia-Moorhead rallied past their Sweet 16 foes and into the Elite 8, while the top three teams in the country stayed undefeated by winning at home in Friday night's NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament.

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No. 17 Chicago shut down No. 7 Hope in the fourth quarter and got clutch shooting in the final minute to down the Flying Dutch and advance to the sectional semifinals, 55-52.

The game turned in the fourth quarter when Chicago held Hope to one field goal over a nearly nine-minute span. That allowed the Maroons to erase a seven-point deficit and take a 47-45 lead on Kate Gross’ three-pointer with two minutes left.

The Maroons nudged their lead to three before Hope snapped its field goal drought with a game-tying three from Anna Richards. Annabelle Spotts immediately answered with a jumper for Chicago, and the Maroons stole the ball on Hope’s ensuing possession, forcing the Flying Dutch to foul. Chris Sanders made four free throws in the final 10 seconds, and the Maroons hung on for the win, despite Hope getting a three-pointer from Maddie Petroelje.

Spotts finished one rebound shy of a double-double (11 points, nine boards), and Kasi Samuda had one (12 points, 10 rebounds) off the bench for Chicago (20-7). Hope (26-4) was paced by Leah Richards who finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, and three blocks.

No. 4 UW-Oshkosh shrugged off an ugly start and pulled away for a comfortable victory over No. 15 Washington U., 64-43. The Titans opened the game shooting 2 for 15 and scoring four points in the first quarter, but their defense held WashU to just 10 points. UWO shot 80 percent (8 for 10) in the second quarter and took a 22-19 halftime lead after Sarah Hardwick’s layup.

The game remained close until Avery Poole, Kate Huml, and Paige Seckar hit threes as part of a 14-2 UWO run that sent the Titans into the fourth quarter 44-33 lead. Poole scored two layups and Seckar two free throws midway through the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.

Huml efficiently scored 16 points in 21 minutes on 5-for-9 shooting for Oshkosh (27-3), and the Titans outscored the Bears 21-6 from three. Lexy Harris notched 12 points and seven rebounds for WashU (20-7).

The evening started with No. 20 Concordia-Moorhead knocking off No. 5 Johns Hopkins with a late scoring flurry at the Scranton sectional, 64-59. After Macie Feldman’s free throw gave the Blue Jays a 53-52 lead with under four minutes to play, Concordia-Moorhead scored eight straight, including a clutch three from Taylor Safranski that gave the Cobbers a two-possession lead. Lauren Knudson’s three-pointer pulled Johns Hopkins within three in the closing minute, but Alexa Snesrud’s layup pushed the Cobbers’ lead back to five with just five seconds left.

Maya Metcalf grabbed 22 rebounds and Snesrud scored 13 points off the bench for Concordia-Moorhead (26-4), which had a 26-9 reserve scoring advantage. Kendall Dunham scored 18 points for Johns Hopkins (27-2).

Concordia-Moorhead advances to face No. 2 Scranton since the Royals cruised past No. 12 Bates at home, 76-59. The Royals put the game away early, outscoring the Bobcats 25-3 in the opening eight minutes and taking a 40-18 lead into the half. Bates played better in the second half, but never got within 15 points. Meghan Lamanna capped Scranton’s dominant performance with a layup that pushed the Royals lead to 27 before Scranton subbed out its starters.

Kaci Krason had a double-double in the first half and finished with 17 points and 11 boards, while Kate Gorski poured in 23 points on 10-for-14 shooting for Scranton (30-0). Elsa Daulerio completed her stellar career at Bates (26-4) with 18 points.

No. 1 New York University kept rolling along, picking up its 90^th consecutive win in a 103-61 rout of Hardin-Simmons. The Violets shot 17 for 33 from three (52 percent) and 59 percent from the field, plus made all eight of their free throws. Caroline Peper led the way with 24 points in 28 minutes, and Olivia Lagao scored 17 in just 15 minutes off the bench for NYU (28-0). Jacqueline Berry, who was last year’s National Rookie of the Year, scored 20 points for Hardin-Simmons (24-6).

The Violets will attempt to break the University of Connecticut’s all Division record for consecutive wins  against No. 19 UW-La Crosse on Saturday night since the Eagles eliminated Southern Maine, 66-45. The Huskies jumped out to a 6-0 lead and held a 15-12 advantage after one period. But UW-La Crosse opened the second on a 16-2 run and led the rest of the way.

Molly Janke posted a double-double (15 points, 15 rebounds), while Grace Knupp tallied 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists for UW-La Crosse (21-9). Lucy Wiles and Liz Cote scored 15 apiece for Southern Maine (27-3).

In a matchup between NCAC foes, No. 8 Denison beat No. 11 John Carroll for the third time this season, this time by a score of 86-67. Denison’s offense was ultra efficient, as the Big Red shot 48 percent from the field and tallied 12 assists against just six turnovers. The Blue Streaks did hold Denison scoreless for the first five minutes in the final period, but they could not make enough headway against the Big Red’s big lead. Ada Taute put the game away with a three that pushed Denison’s lead to 80-67 with a minute left.

All five starters scored double figures for Denison (27-2) led by Taute who had 24 points, and Anelly Mad-Toingué who had 12 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. Ava Ryncarz scored 20 points and had five threes in the first half for John Carroll (26-5), which reached the sectional round for the first time in program history.

Denison will stay in Virginia and face No. 3 Washington and Lee after the Generals sent their capacity crowd home happy following a 75-67 win over No. 23 Bethel. The Royals attacked the rim and scored 44 points in the paint, taking a three-point lead on Rosalie Penke’s layup early in the fourth quarter. Washington and Lee responded with a 9-0 run that included a go-ahead three-pointer by Elka Prechel and a driving layup from Icey Kinneah. Bethel stayed within striking distance until Prechel drained another three, pushing W&L’s lead to seven, and Mary Schleusner put the game away with a jumper.

Schleusner played well, as usual, racking up 20 points and 17 rebounds and adding to her career record for double doubles, but the Generals’ victory was a team effort. Sarah Zimmerman filled the stat sheet with eight points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, and Keneah had multiple key buckets in the second half for Washington and Lee (31-0). Bethel (24-7) got double-digit scoring performances from four players, led by Emily Erickson who finished with 13.