The #7 Sterling College women’s basketball team clinched their 10th KCAC Championship Saturday night, with a 65-50 win over the University of Saint Mary in Leavenworth, KS.
The Lady Warriors will have to share the title with Kansas Wesleyan University, who escaped Bethel College, 75-72, in their final game to finish the season also with a 16-2 record. Sterling will receive the #1 seed in the upcoming KCAC Post Season tournament and will receive the first of two bids KCAC bids to the NAIA Div. II Women’s National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa, March 11-17, 2009.
Saint Mary, who fell to the Lady Warriors by thirty-nine points one month ago in Sterling, looked to avenge the loss, but Sterling was ready and not about to give up there chances at their third straight KCAC title. Sterling jumped out to 35-21 lead led by Megan Patrick’s ten first half points and cruised through the second half, never letting the Spires get closer than fifteen points.
The Lady Warriors were led in scoring by sophomore Brittany Gasper, with seventeen points. Patrick and Jacci Tinkel finished with twelve. Ashley Kraft added eleven points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Sterling (24-4, 16-2) will play host to the winner of #8 Saint Mary/#9Bethel play-in game on Thursday at 7:00pm in Sterling. The Lady Warriors will play at home all the way thru the tournament as long as they win. A full bracket and scores can be viewed on the KCAC website at HYPERLINK www.kcacsports.com