BROKEN ARROW, OKLA. - Brittany Buss scored 15 points and Shae Mercer added 12 for sixth-seeded Spalding University as they knocked off third-seeded Penn State-Beaver 77-45 in the quarterfinals of the 2008 U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association Women's Basketball Championships on Thursday morning.

A first half that saw neither team get into a real offensive flow, the Golden Eagles pulled away in the latter stages for a 26-17 halftime advantage.  Spalding hit 9-of-27 from the floor (33.3%) while the Lady Lions were 7-of-22 from the floor (31.8%).

In the second half, Spalding forced Penn State-Beaver into a frigid 25.8% shooting percentage (8-of-31), while they found an outside stroke nailing 6-of-10 from three-point range (60%) and hit 18-of-39 from the floor overall (46.2%).

For Penn State-Beaver, Heather Sandusky and Jasmine Green were the leading scorers with 10 points apiece.

Spalding now advances to a 2 pm semifinal on Friday against the winner of Robert Morris-Springfield and Philander Smith.  Penn State-Beaver will face the loser of that game at 8 am in a consolation round matchup.