MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Led by double doubles from senior Ty Bender and sophomore Sara Tarbert, the Stevenson women's basketball team erased a 16-point first half deficit as the Mustangs defeated Williams 67-55 in the first round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship at Panzer Athletic Center on Friday.

With the win, the Mustangs (24-3) advance to the second round and will face host and seventh-ranked Montclair State on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.

It was the first NCAA appearance for the Mustangs who overcame their 15th deficit of the season.

Stevenson missed its first six shots while the Ephs (20-7) connected on three of their first six shots, including a three-pointer by Devon Caveney that gave them a 7-0 lead.

An lay-up by Bender got the Mustangs on the board for the first time with 15:32 remaining, but Williams responded with back-to-back baskets to give the team a double-digit lead for the first time.

The Mustangs had trouble stopping Williams down low early as the Ephs scored 12 of their first 22 points in the paint. 

Trailing 22-6, Stevenson went on an 11-2 run to get back into the game before getting hot. The Ephs started 9-for-14 from the field compared to 0-for-7 for the Mustangs, but Stevenson finished the half 10-for-21 while Williams was just 2-for-15.

Two free throws by senior Kyarra Harmon cut Stevenson's deficit to single digits before Tarbert hit a three-pointer to cut the margin to six.

However, Caveney was left open and hit her second three-pointer of the half that marked the first field goal for the Ephs in a span of 4:54.

The Mustangs finished the first half on a 17-6 run to cut their deficit to 28-23 at the break.

The Ephs opened the second half on an 8-4 run, but Stevenson responded with four-straight points to get within five. Ellen Cook hit a three-pointer as the shot clock was expiring to spark a 9-2 run for Williams to push its lead to 10.

Bender scored 10 of Stevenson's first 18 points of the opening half as the senior continuously was able to get to the paint. A lay-up by the guard got the Mustangs within four at 45-41 with 12:07 left.

Highlighted by six points by Bender and four forced turnovers, Stevenson used a 12-5 run to make it a one-possession game for the first time since it was 2-0.

Senior Kayleigh Guzek hit one of two free throws to get the Mustangs within one before hitting her only made field goal, a three-pointer 2:08 later to give Stevenson its first lead of the game at 53-51.

The basket sparked a 15-0 run over the next 6:57 that gave the Mustangs a seven-point lead.

Caveney hit a deep three-pointer to cut its deficit to six with 1:49 to play, marking the first field goal for the Ephs since the 9:04 mark. However, the Mustangs made five of their final six free throws as they ended the game on a 22-4 run.

Bender totaled her first career double double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Tarbert posted her 16th with a game-high 24 points and 12 rebounds which broke the single season record for rebounds in a single season.

Harmon joined the duo in double figure scoring, finishing with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

Cook and Kellie Macdonald combined for 27 points while Katie Litman totaled nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Both teams had 42 rebounds while the Mustangs forced 21 turnovers and outscored the Ephs 44-22 in the paint. Stevenson also shot 41.9 percent from the field, the 11th time the team has shot over 40 percent this season.