POMONA, Calif. (March 9) - Tirzah Church matched her career high with 25 points and Tiffany Massey posted a double-double to spur the UAA basketball team to a 76-58 victory over Central Washington in the NCAA Women's Division II West Regional at Kellogg Gym tonight. UAA, the No. 3 seed, improved to 21-7, while Central Washington, the No. 6 seed, finished its season at 19-9.

The victory was the Seawolves' second all-time in NCAA play, with the first also coming in Pomona in 1988. UAA moves on to play No. 2 seed and 13th-ranked Western Washington Friday at 4:45 p.m. AST.

Church sparked the Seawolves on a 22-8 run in the last 6:31 of the first half as UAA rallied from a 24-16 deficit to a 38-32 advantage at the break. Church scored 10 of UAA's points during the game-changing stretch, including a clutch three-pointer from the corner with 10 seconds left.

UAA then began the second half on an 18-4 run that increased the lead to an insurmountable 56-36 with 12:18 remaining. The Seawolves outshot the Wildcats 48 percent to 26 percent in the second stanza and 48 to 34 percent for the game.

Massey scored 11 of her 17 points in the second half, going 7-for-8 from the free throw line. She also grabbed 11 rebounds, had four assists, three steals and two blocks. Her 17 points and 11 boards were her team-leading eighth double-double for UAA. Her 236 rebounds are the seventh-best single-season mark in UAA history.

Other standout performances in the victory included a near triple-double for junior center Kellie Torrey, who finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and a game-high seven assists with just two turnovers, and senior guard Catherine Hale, who came off the bench with seven points and seven rebounds.

Church shot 10-for-17 from the field, including 5-of-8 from long distance. The 10 field goals and 25 points were both team season-highs.

Friday night's game, which will decide a spot in Saturday's Regional Final, will be broadcast in Anchorage on KTZN AM-550 "The Zone."