Sterling College

For the seventh time in Sterling College Women's basketball history the Lady Warriors have won the KCAC Tournament Championship with a win over Southwestern College Monday night at the Gleason Center. Sterling outlasted the Moundbuilders 64-60 in front of a packed house in the KCAC Championship.

Sterling started the game off on a 7-3 run sparked by a field goal from Britany Gasper and then a three pointer and a two from Ashley Kraft. Southwestern responded with 5-1 run cutting the lead to one. But both teams struggled turning the ball over the rest of the half as the Lady Warriors finally got there largest lead of the half with 1:05 to play when Jacci Tinkel barried a three pointer from the right side of the court off an assist from Ashley Kraft. Sterling took a 33-26 lead into halftime.

In the second half of action, Sterling seemed to be focused and handled Southwestern's pressure quite well as they build there largest lead 47-37 with 13:36 left to play. Southwestern then went on a 21-9 run to get back into the game and actually take the lead 58-56 when Sara Maxwell hit a three pointer to give the Moundbuilder's the two point advantage with 3:28 left to play. Sterling then used the free throw line to get back in the game as they went to the charity stripe ten times in the final three minutes of the game. With thirty-nine seconds left to play Erin Thiessen stole the ball in went to the basket and was fouled. Thiessen missed her first one and then the second but followed her shot and pulled away the rebound and was fouled again. Thiessen then calm and collectively made both that put the Lady Warriors up 62-58. Southwestern's Jenna Wilson hit a runner in the lane that cut the lead to two but Gasper was fouled on the next possession and added two more free throws for insurance as Sterling picks up their seventh KCAC Tournament Championship.

Sterling was lead in scoring by Kraft with 19 points, and 9 rebounds. Tinkel added 15 points and Hilary Stucky chipped in thirteen. Wilson led the Moundbuilder's with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Sterling (23-7, 17-1) will now wait till Wednesday to find out who they will face in the first round of the NAIA Div. II National Tournament next week in Sioux City, Iowa. Southwestern (23-8, 14-4) will be the second team representing the KCAC in next weeks tournament. Sterling is making their twelfth appearance in the NAIA National Tournament and look to improve off last years "Sweet Sixteen" appearance.

Full brackets for the NAIA National Tournament will be released by the NAIA on Wednesday afternoon.