CEDARVILLE, Ohio - After a competitive quarterfinal round on Thursday evening, the final four teams - including the top two seeds who earned a bye into the semifinals - took the court and fought for the right to play for the G-MAC Championship. Eventually the top two seeds prevailed, but it wasn't easy for either.
SEMIFINAL #1 - No. 2 Trevecca Nazarene vs. No. 3 Kentucky Wesleyan
In the regular-season Trevecca Nazarene University and Kentucky Wesleyan College split its conference series, but on Friday night there was more at stake than a simple conference victory. The two teams were fighting to prevent an end to their season and continue the hopes of a conference title. In the end, the Panthers’ outlasted the Trojans and will have the opportunity to defend its conference title on Saturday in the G-MAC Championship.
Trevecca Nazarene finishes its season after an impressive 14-2 regular-season, closing out at 17-10 overall. Senior Kaci Britt Bell, who led the Trojans with almost 13 points and a nearly seven rebounds per game, finished her season with a team-high 12 points, matched by Christina Curtner, Kylie White, and Helen Mitchner. Curtner recorded a double-double with ten rebounds.
For the Panthers, Brittany Wells led the way with a game-high 14 points on 7-11 shooting, while Jennifer Walker-Crawford and Jordanne Gambill joined her in double-figures with 12 and 11 points respectively.
Early in the second half, the Panthers extended their lead to double digits after making their first three shots. Britt Bell silenced the Panthers run scoring five straight herself as TNU started to chip away at the lead. The Trojans eventually tied it with a basket by Kylie White. The teams then exchanged leads with Christina Curtner hitting a three with six minutes remaining to give TNU its first lead since midway through the first half. Panthers responded by attacking the rim and spending three-straight possessions at the free throw line.
Bria Wright knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Panthers the lead with 50 seconds remaining, which the Panthers would hold to outlast the Trojans, 71-66.
The Panthers’ bench contributed greatly with 33 points. As a team, KWC knocked down 21 of its 24 free throw attempts and only turned the ball over four times in the second half to secure the victory.
SEMIFINAL #2 - No. 1 Cedarville vs. No. 5 Central State
Behind G-MAC Women’s Basketball Athlete of the Year, Raegan Ryan, who scored six of the team’s first 12 points, Cedarville got off to a hot start and led 16-6 through the first eight minutes. Central State center Kourtni Perry did all she could for the Lady Marauders to stay in the game as she scored the team’s first six points.
Heading into halftime, Ryan had 10 points to go along with four boards and three dimes. Perry pulled down six rebounds to add to her eight points. Following a late 10-4 run by CSU, the Lady Jackets held a slim one point lead at halftime, 30-29. Central State grabbed the edge on the boards 21-17 and forced Cedarville into 13 costly turnovers in the first half.
Cedarville scored the first few buckets of the second half, but Central State didn’t back down as they continued playing their press defense. The Marauders tied it up just before the first media timeout of the second half, but Ryan knocked down a 3-pointer to grab the momentum back.
Off the back of that momentum 3-point basket, Cedarville went on a 13-3 run to pull ahead by eight with 11 minutes remaining. The Marauders continued to fight, staying within 10 the rest of the way, but never really closed on the Lady Jackets.
Central State held the lead in rebounds finishing with a 46-34 advantage, but Cedarville took control of the bench outscoring CSU 14-0. CSU’s Iniquia Snell scored 27 of the team’s 53 to lead all scorers.
Ryan and Brittenham paced the Yellow Jackets with 19 and 15, respectively.
Cedarville will look to capture its first Women’s Basketball Championship and prevent the defending champion Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers from repeated. The championship will tip off Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Cedarville University.