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LSC CHAMPS TIMES TWO!!
March 4, 2006
LONE STAR CONFERENCE CHAMPS - TIMES TWO!! West Texas A&M University men's and women's basketball teams both won the LSC Championships, as the 17th-ranked Lady Buffs beat Angelo State University, 83-68, Saturday night at the First United Bank Center. In Durant, Okla., the WTAMU Buffs beat 13th-ranked Tarleton State University, 92-85, marking the second time within a week for the Buffs to beat the Texans. WTAMU becomes the first school to win both the men's and women's conference titles in the same year since 1991 when WTAMU did it.
Freshman guard Emily Brister was named the LSC Tournament MVP and was joined by senior forward Keisha Monroe on the All-Tournament Team. Angelo State's Kandra Lakey and Britinee Davis were selected, as well as Margaret Wimbish from Texas Woman's University and Kanani Marshall from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
The Lady Buffs improved to 27-3 and are on a season-long 12-game winning streak, dethroning the three-time defending LSC Champion Rambelles, who are 22-8.
WTAMU earns the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA-II South Central Regional Tournament, while ASU is also expected to receive a berth, as the Rambelles were ranked fourth in the region rankings which determine the eight-team region field, which will be announced Sunday night.
The Lady Buffs won their LSC-record eighth conference title, but first since 1996-97.
WTAMU ends up unbeaten at home this season with a 15-0 mark, and is on a 19-game home winning streak dating back to last year, as ASU was the last team to beat WTAMU at home.
While the two programs are two of the most successful and decorated in the LSC, as WTAMU now has the conference record for most LSC Tournament titles with eight, and ASU had won the last three, Saturday was the first time that the two have faced each other for the title.
Brister posted her third double-double of the season with a team-high 17 points and a game and career-high 11 rebounds, as well as swiping four steals and dishing out four assists.
Senior forward Keisha Monroe also posted a double-double, her sixth of the season and seventh of her career, with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Alicia Saunders netted 13 points, while junior guard Jennifer Brock scored 11 points to go with a game-high five assists and junior forward Natalie Wheeler had 10 points.
ASU's Meghann LeJeune hit a jumper with 7:50 to go in the half to put the Rambelles ahead, 21-18, but that would be ASU's last field goal of the half, as WTAMU erupted for a 22-4 run to close out the half, including 12 unanswered points the last three minutes as the Lady Buffs took a 40-25 halftime lead, hitting 50.0 percent (16-of-32) from the field for the half.
WTAMU dominated the glass to the tune of 48-40, including 20 offensive rebounds which led to a 24-10 advantage on second chance points.
More stats and info to follow later.
The NCAA-II Tournament Field will be announced late Sunday night, stay tuned to www.gobuffsgo.com for more information.
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