Southern Utah celebrates their victory in an NCAA school basketball sport in opposition to California Baptist within the championship of the Western Athletic Convention match, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. Southern Utah gained 82-73. Ronda Churchill, Related Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cherita Daugherty scored 26 factors, Lizzy Williams and Tomekia Whitman had double-doubles and Southern Utah beat California Baptist 82-73 on Saturday to win the Western Athletic Convention Event championship and this system’s first journey to the NCAA Event.
The Thunderbirds (23-9), of their first yr within the WAC after leaving the Huge Sky Convention, scored the sport’s first eight factors and led thereafter in beating the Lancers (19-13), who gained the the 2021 match however have been vying for his or her first NCAA journey after finishing a four-year transition from Division II.
Southern Utah was the regular-season champion however was seeded second based mostly on the convention’s resume-seeding system. California Baptist was the fourth seed.
Daugherty was 8 of 13 from the ground and 10 of 13 on the line. Williamson added 13 factors and 12 rebounds and Whitman 12 factors and 11 rebounds. Daylani Ballena added 14 factors and Megan Jensen 12.
California Baptist’s Chloe Webb scored 21 factors and Sila Finau 15. Grace Schmidt added 10 factors and Trinity San Antonio grabbed 11 rebounds. 4 Lancers fouled out.
Southern Utah led by 10 heading into the ultimate quarter. The Lancers obtained inside six after a 3-pointer by Dorcas Wu with 29.6 seconds remaining however didn’t join once more as Ballena sank three free throws.
After the groups mixed for simply 16 factors within the second quarter which ended with the Thunderbirds forward 31-23, they mixed for 42 within the third. The Lancers missed their first 15 3-point makes an attempt then made three within the third quarter, getting inside six on Finau’s four-point play with beneath 4 minutes left. However Whitman hit a 3-pointer to start out a 10-6 quarter-ending run for a 53-43 lead.
Southern Utah shot 49% and made 25 of 36 free throws to 13 of 20 for the Lancers, who shot 37% from the ground and put up 34 3-point makes an attempt, making eight. The Thunderbirds have been plus-12 on the boards.
Southern Utah gained the one regular-season assembly with the Lancers 83-75.