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Southwest Mississippi Community College

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region 23 Finals
Juco Weekly

Women's Basketball Michael D. Gunnell, Southwest Sports Information

Lady Bears fall to Baton Rouge in Region 23 title game

The Southwest Lady Bears' bid for an NJCAA Region 23 tournament championship came to an end Saturday night as they dropped a 68-57 decision to Baton Rouge Community College. Despite the loss, the Lady Bears will still advance to the NJCAA championship tournament which begins March 17 in Salina, KS.
 
The first half was tight, with four ties and three lead changes. Baton Rouge pulled out to an early 7-3 lead, but the Lady Bears quickly came back to take a 10-9 lead, with 15:48 on the clock, on Katrina Littlepage's bucket and free throw.
 
A Fredrikah Wilson three-pointer, with 11:49 to play in the half, gave the Lady Bears a 15-13 advantage, one they would hold for most of the half. Littlepage's trey pushed their lead to 28-22 with just under 4:00 left on the clock. A Kaylynn Walker three-pointer cut the lead down to one, 28-27, with 1:32 on the clock. Courtney Epting's long-range basket just before the buzzer then sent the Lady Bears into the locker room on top 31-27.
 
Baton Rouge quickly took the lead in the second half, scoring eight of the first 10 points, to take a 38-33 lead with 16:24 to play. But, the Lady Bears responded with six straight points, the final two on Talisa Sherman's free throws, to regain the lead, 39-38, with 14:29 left.
 
With the game tied at 41-41, Baton Rouge (24-6) suddenly exploded for a 13-0 run to take a 54-41 lead with 7:19 left. Four points from Sherman and two from April Levy allowed the Lady Bears to cut the lead down to eight, 59-5, with 3:08 to play, but that would be as close as they would get as Baton Rouge took home the title with the 11-point win.
 
"Baton Rouge had our number tonight," said Lady Bears' head coach Brent Harris. "They were good in transition and shot the ball extremely well. But, we have had a tremendous year. I am so proud of our team. This is a group that is very deserving of our bid to the national tournament."
 
Littlepage led three Lady Bears in double figures with 19 points. Epting had 13 while Sherman scored 12.
 
Wilson added five points for the Lady Bears and Tee Myers picked up four. Levy and Raven Reyes both scored two points. Southwest hit 18 of 21 free throws. Littlepage and Levy were both named to the All-Tournament team.
 
Baton Rouge was paced by Rosa Bryant's 19 points. Bryant and her teammates combined to make good on seven of 11 free throws.
 
Both teams now await the release of the national championship bracket to find out their next opponent.

Box Score---
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