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No. 17 Lady Buffs Advance To Saturday's LSC Title Tilt With 64-58 Taming Of Lions
March 3, 2006
The 17th-ranked West Texas A&M University Lady Buffs advanced to the Lone Star Conference Championship game with a 64-58 win over Texas A&M University-Commerce Friday night in a semifinal contest at the First United Bank Center. WTAMU improved its season-long win streak to 11 in a row and is 14-0 at home this season and are on an 18-game home winning streak, winning 19 of its last 21 home games. The Lady Buffs advance to the title game for the 12th time in conference history, as WTAMU is making its 14th-straight trip to the LSC Tournament. WTAMU will face Angelo State in Saturday's title tilt at 7 p.m. at the First United Bank Center.
Angelo State pulled away from Texas Woman's, 75-55, in the other semifinal.
WTAMU improved to 26-3 with the win, and the Lady Buffs will be trying to detrone the four-time defending conference champion. The Lady Buffs and Rambelles have locked horns twice this season, with WTAMU winning both in close fashion, 67-65 on Jan. 21 at Canyon and 70-61 at San Angelo on Feb. 18.
While the two programs are two of the most successful and decorated in the LSC, as WTAMU is tied for the conference record for most LSC Tournament titles with seven, and ASU has won the last four, Saturday will be the first time that the two have faced each other for the title.
Three Lady Buffs posted double-figures, led by 21 points from freshman guard, Emily Brister, along with six rebounds, four steals and four assists.
Senior forward Keisha Monroe tallied 13 points in the second half, finishing with 14, spearheading WTAMU's rally from a 37-28 halftime deficit. Monroe also had five blocks, six rebounds and four steals.
Freshman guard Courtney Lee tossed in 11 points, while junior forward Alicia Saunders grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, leading the Lady Buffs to a 48-35 rebounding advantage.
Junior guard Jennifer Brock was a point and rebound away from a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, as well as dishing out a team-high five assists.
TAMU-C was led by 18 points from Kanani Marshal, who hit five 3-pointers and had 15 points at half, but only scored three in the second half, as the WTAMU defense put the clamps on TAMU-C. The Lady Buffs outscored the Lions, 36-21, after halftime.
Portia Mitchell logged a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Rashida Wilson netted 17 points and dished out a game-high eight assists before fouling out. TAMU-C had only eight players in uniform, and four fouled out, leaving the Lady Lions with only four players on the court for the final 1.8 seconds.
TAMU-C played tough, physical defense and crashed the boards hard, and consequentaly, resulted in more fouls being called and WTAMU going to the free throw line.
Unfortunately, the Lady Buffs struggled at the line, hitting an uncharacteric 55.0 percent (19-of-51) at the charity stripe.
More stats and info to follow later.
Gates will open at 6 p.m. with tickets available at the door. For ticket information, contact the WTAMU Athletics Ticket Office at 806-651-4424.
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