MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The No. 2 seeded Lady Eagles (21-8) bowed out of the SSAC Women's Basketball Championship in the semifinals with a 81-67 loss to the nation's No. 24 ranked and SSAC's No. 3 seed UT Southern (22-5) Friday afternoon at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl with costly second half turnovers.
Ella Jane Connell continued her torrid run to start the tournament, dropping three threes in the first five minutes to take a 16-8 lead, but UTS's defense clamped down and did not allow a basket until
Grace Anne Rose beat the buzzer to take a 18-15 lead into the second quarter.
The second quarter started all Firehawks with a 10-3 run as the Lady Eagles quietly started drawing fouls to go into the bonus with just under six left in the half.
In a one point game, UTS connected on an apparent three, but a foul called before the shot waved it off and got a block before connecting on two free throws on the ensuing possession to regain the lead. It was short lived as a corner three UTS put the three seed back in the lead. With 21 seconds in the half
Morgan Holland DeWitt hit the first of two to tie but the go ahead free throw rimmed out and gave the Firehawks a chance to connect on a three as time wound down in the half to take a 34-31 lead into half.
Both teams traded long range punches to start the second half before UTS capitalized on the fourth foul called on
Ruthie Smith with 8:32 to go in the third for an 11-3 run to lead by 9. Faulkner cut it to a four point game a couple of times. With a 55-49 deficit in the last 15 seconds, Faulkner gave up five points over five seconds to see the Firehawk lead expand to 60-49 going into the last quarter.
Ruthie Smith reentered to start the fourth quarter and took over with six points and three boards in the first three-and-a-half minutes as the Lady Eagles brought it back to a two score game with 5:19 to go. However, a layup and ensuing steal on the inbounds and a couple of fouls swung four points to the Firehawks to push it back to double figures with just over four minutes to go.
Rogers hit a three with three minutes to go but Ramie Reed and Ashley Dickey got layups on the next two possessions to make it an 11 point spread. DeWitt answered with a three but UTS answered right back with a layup that
Keyarra Scottland got right back. Faulkner got a steal on the next possession with just over 40 seconds left, but turned it over and began the free throw end game sequence.
Faulkner turned the ball over 19 times in total with 11 coming in the second half.
Connell lead the Lady Eagles with 16 points with DeWitt adding 13 and Smith 11. Holland and Smith each had seven rebounds.
The Lady Eagles anticipate a bid to the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship with the selection show set for March 5 at 7 p.m.
