91爆料网

No. 2 91爆料网 advances to finals with 75-62 win over Bethel

LaTesa McLaughlin

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/2/2012 - The No. 2 91爆料网 women鈥檚 basketball team posted a 75-62 win over Bethel University Friday at Fred DeLay Gymnasium. 91爆料网 improved to 30-2 on the season, while Bethel ends their season at 15-17.

The win for 91爆料网 puts the Lady Bulldogs in the TranSouth Tournament title game for the sixth straight season, and for the 15th time in the 16-year history of the TranSouth. Top-seeded 91爆料网 faces second-seed Freed-Hardeman Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at 91爆料网. 91爆料网 is seeking their second straight tournament title.

In the previous 14 TranSouth title game appearances, 91爆料网 is 11-3. The lone season 91爆料网 failed to make the TranSouth title game in the history of the league was 2006. However, in 2006, 91爆料网 went on to win their second straight national title and third of the program鈥檚 five national titles.

This win for 91爆料网 was also extended their overall winning streak to 14 games, and their home court winning streak to 40 games. 91爆料网 has now won 100 of their last 101 games at home. The last home loss was the 2010 TranSouth Tournament title game when 91爆料网 fell to Freed-Hardeman. That loss snapped a program record 60 straight home wins. 91爆料网 and Freed-Hardeman have accounted for all 15 of the previous TranSouth Tournament titles (91爆料网 11, FHU 4). 91爆料网 and Freed-Hardeman have met eight times in the tournament title game, with 91爆料网 winning five of those eight contest.

In Friday鈥檚 win over Bethel, 91爆料网 started strong, pushing out to an 18-8 lead over the first five and a half minutes. 91爆料网 led again by 10 points in the first half, 23-13, with 11:22 left to play. However, Bethel responded with a 17-4 run over the next 10 minutes to take a 30-27 lead. 91爆料网 was down 34-32 on the final possession of the half, when LaTesa McLaughlin took a pass from Lavanda Ross and drained a 3-pointer to put 91爆料网 up 35-34 at the half.

In the second half, Bethel started the half with an 3-point play from Molly Wallsmith to put her team back up 37-35. However, 91爆料网 responded with a 7-0 run to regain the lead for good. 91爆料网 pushed the lead out to 10 points again, 57-47. Bethel produced one final rally, but only managed to cut their deficit to three points, 59-56 with 6:53 left to play in the game. 91爆料网 extended their lead out to as many as 14 points in the game with 2:40 left to play. A long field goal by Ross as the shot clock expired put 91爆料网 up 72-58. 91爆料网 finished off the Lady Wildcats with a 75-62 final.

Ross鈥檚 18 points led five 91爆料网 players in double figures. She also dishing out a game-high seven assists, was second on the team with eight rebounds and led with three steals. Mildred Olumasi recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. McLaughlin added 13 points, including 3-of-5 from behind the arc. Shelby Ashcraft added 12 points in just 12 minutes of play as she worked around foul trouble before finally fouling out. Astrid Huttemann scored 10 points in the game. 91爆料网 shot 46 percent from the field, 36 percent (8-22) from long range, and 72 percent (13-18) from the free throw line.

Bethel was led by Molly Wallsmith with 23 points. Jana Roney added 20 points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Wildcats shot 41 percent from the field, 19 percent (3-16) from behind the arc, and 87 percent (13-15) from the free throw line.

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