ACU falls to ASU in semifinals
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ACU's tournament run ends in semifinals
Wildcats' fate now in the hands of regional committee
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – For the second straight season, ACU's run through the Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament came to an abrupt halt in the semifinal round.
Last year it was a one-point loss to Northeastern State, and Friday night it was a 74-61 loss to Angelo State in the semifinals at Dobbins Field House on the Northeastern State campus. The Rambelles – the defending LSC champion – will take on either Northeastern State or West Texas A&M at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Wildcat' fate is now in the hands of the members of the NCAA Division II South Central Region selection committee, which will announce the eight-team tournament field Sunday night at 9 p.m. The Wildcats are the No. 8 team in the region, and have a good shot at receiving one of five at-large berths to the tournament. ACU has not made a regional tournament appearance since the 1997-98 season when it lost to Truman State in the quarterfinals.
ACU (20-9) never led Friday as the Rambelles (26-3 and ranked No. 3 in the region and No. 10 in the nation) jumped out to an early 8-0 lead and never looked back. The Wildcats trimmed the lead to one point on several occasions in the first half, and then cut the lead to six points in the second half. ACU, though, could never piece a run together that could turn the tide against the Rambelles, who beat ACU for the first time this season after losing the first two meetings between the teams.
The Wildcats had trouble getting out of the blocks in the first half, falling behind 8-0 before Stephanie Riles scored eight of the Wildcats' next 14 points as ACU got the game tied 14-14 at the 10:35 mark on an old-fashioned three-point play by Kierstan Barbee.
After a Haley Hammond jumper cut the lead to 22-20 at the 6:50 mark, the Rambelles scored six of the next eight points to increase their lead to 28-22 at the 4:41 mark. An Ashlee Barr jumper cut the lead to 28-24 at the 3:40 mark, but the Rambelles closed the half on a 12-4 run to give them a 40-29 lead.
Natalja Tsurbakova – who had 14 first-half points – hit 5 of 6 free throws in the final 2:30 of the first half, and Christina Johnson hit a pair of buckets to lead the run by the Rambelles.
The Rambelles opened up as much as a 14-point lead in the second half (50-36 at the 15:09 mark) before the Wildcats began to rally. ACU cut the lead to 52-45 at the 11:55 mark on a pair of Barbee free throws before the Rambelles pushed the lead out again to 11 points on two occasions.
Trailing 65-54 with 3:35 to play, ACU reeled off a 7-2 run to make it a 67-61 game at the 1:59 mark. Jamie Boles made a jumper, Doyle converted on a three-point play, and Barr made a fast-break layup to cut the lead to 67-61.
But the Rambelles scored the final seven points of the game – including five by Tsurbakova – to seal the victory.
ACU was led by Riles, who led three Wildcats in double figures with 16 points. Barr had 13 off the bench, and Barbee had 10 off the Wildcats' bench. Tsurbakova finished with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead ASU.
