The Aurora University women's basketball team took to the road in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament on Thursday night. AU was at No. 1 seeded Concordia University Wisconsin and the Spartans knocked off the top seed 66-63.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #4 Aurora University 66: #1 Concordia University Wisconsin 63
LOCATION: Mequon, Wisconsin – R. John Buuck Fieldhouse
RECORDS: Aurora University 17-10; Concordia University Wisconsin 20-6
 
SPARTAN STARTING LINE UP:
Guard: Bethany Dorrington
Guard: Mallory Cast
Guard: Molly Rosenow
Forward: Anna Roszkowski
Forward: Kelly Evers
 
BEYOND THE BOX
The Spartan win moves AU into the NACC women's basketball tournament final for the first time in the 10 seasons of the NACC.
The Conference Tournament Final appearance will mark the first for AU since 2003-2004 when AU was in the former Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Four minutes into the game, AU trailed 9-2.
Later in the opening period, the Spartans used a 10-2 run to take a 14-13 lead. Bethany Dorrington and Mallory Cast each had five points in the run.
AU trailed CUW by one, 17-16 at the end of the first period.
After the Spartans scored the first basket to take an 18-17 lead, CUW ran out on a 12-0 run to take a 29-18 lead with 6:46 to play.
A late three-point play by Molly Rosenow cut into the CUW lead (down seven - 34-27) with a minute to go.
The teams went into halftime with AU trailing by 10, 37-27.
In the third period, the Spartan trio of Dorrington, Cast and Anna Roszkowski went to work against the Falcons and their lead.
AU methodically cut down the lead and with 2:09 to play in the third, Dorrington drained a three and AU led 46-44.
Roskowski followed up with a three point play and AU was up five, 49-44.
At the end of three periods, AU led 49-48.
The Spartans continued to lead into the fourth and held their largest lead of nine points (61-52) with 5:53 to play.
CUW ran off a 7-0 run and with 2:34 to go, AU led 61-59.
The teams traded trips to the free throw line down the stretch and the Spartan held on to win 66-63.
 
FOR THE SPARTANS
Bethany Dorrington had 25 points and four assists.
Mallory Cast had 19 points on 5 of 10 shooting from three-point range and six rebounds.
Anna Rozskowski had 12 poitns and six rebounds.
 
SPARTAN TEAM LEADERS
Points: Bethany Dorrington (25)
Rebounds: Anna Roszkowski and Mallory Cast (6)
Assists: Cast (4)
Steals: Alyssa Brems (2)
Blocks: Kelly Evers (3)
 
UP NEXT
Next action for the Spartan women's basketball team comes on Saturday, February 27, 2016 when they travel to No. 2 Wisconsin Lutheran College for the Championship Game of the NACC Tournament. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.