Women Capture LSC North Crown

February 27, 2006

Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State saved perhaps its best game for one that was certainly the most important, wrapping up Lone Star Conference North Division women’s basketball title with an exciting 71-70 overtime victory over Texas A&M-Commerce Saturday in Weatherford.

The win gave SWOSU (16-11, 9-3) its first-ever outright LSC North crown since the school joined the NCAA Division II league in 1997.

SWOSU’s Julie Dawson (6-0, Sr., F, Arnett) led the Bulldogs with 16 points. Dawson calmly swished two free throws with 14 seconds to play in the extra period to put SWOSU ahead 71-70.

TAMC (15-12, 7-5) had two shots at the basket in the final seconds but both missed their mark. When the final horn sounded, SWOSU players joined coach Shelly Pond in a jubilant celebration at midcourt.

SWOSU will now host a first-round LSC Tournament game Tuesday night against Texas Woman’s at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the Friday semifinals most likely at the South No. 1 seed West Texas A&M.

The five-minute overtime period was an exceptional showcase by two exhausted teams. The lead changed hands seven times and was tied three others. SWOSU missed only one shot while neither team turned the ball over.

TAMC’s Rashida Wilson, who finished with 19 points, scored six points in a two-minute stretch that kept the Lions close in overtime.

Dawson hit a three-pointer to put the Bulldogs ahead 65-64 with 2:31 to play only to see Wilson answer back with an acrobatic shot of her own. Grace Anne Jones and Andrea Oldham each hit big baskets for the Bulldogs and set up what would later be the winning free throws by Dawson.

Kayla Horn (6-0, Jr., F, Hydro) added 16 points, 14 of which were in the first half, to share scoring honors for SWOSU.

Both teams made over 50% of their shots in the first half only to cool in the second half. SWOSU ended the game making 48% (26-of-54) and had a considerable advantage from the free throw line, outscoring the visiting Lions by a 14-6 margin.