Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.—The Christian Brothers University Lady Bucs dropped an 81-59 decision to No. 7 Arkansas Tech in their regular season finale, but they earned the final spot in next week's Gulf South Conference Tournament anyway, setting up a Thursday game against Valdosta State.
Saturday night, the Golden Suns (25-2, 12-2 GSC West) built a 21-point lead in the first 12 minutes and appeared to have the game well in hand.
But much like the Lady Bucs (15-11, 6-8) did in their 78-72 upset of ATU at Canale Arena, the Lady Bucs found an answer. They went on an 8-0 burst over a 1:16 span in the first half to cut the lead back to 34-22, and they steadily trimmed the lead back to 42-32 on a
Normanique Johnson (Olive Branch, Miss./Olive Branch HS) three-pointer with 18:41 remaining.
ATU answered with six straight points from the free throw line and a Jessica Weatherford layup to extend the lead to 50-32, but the Lady Bucs had another answer in the form of a 10-0run. A
Katie Hume (Memphis, Tenn./Evangelical Christian School) three-pointer followed by back-to-back
Tameka Wooten (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS) threes and a Wooten free throw cut the margin to 50-42 with 13:33 remaining.
This time, however, ATU answered with a 17-2 run to put the game away for good and seal a share of their first GSC West title since 2002-03.
Wooten scored a game-high 24 to go with six rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Hume scored 13, while
Jasmine Ellis (Memphis, Tenn./Central HS) grabbed 10 rebounds to go with six points.
Weatherford and Natalia Santos scored 22 each for the Golden Suns. Jenny Vining scored 12, while Anna Baran added 11.
WIth Delta State's 100-69 win over Henderson State, the final GSC West standings featured ties for first place and fourth place. The first-place tie between DSU and ATU was settled first, by coin toss. ATU won the coin toss, meaning the Lady Bucs had a win over the first-place team, breaking their tie with HSU.
The Lady Bucs earn the No. 4 seed and face GSC East champion Valdosta State Thursday at 12:30 p.m.
