Hendrix wins SAA Tournament to clinch NCAA bid

Hendrix Sports
Cody Usher, Sports Information Director

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Hendrix College women’s basketball team won the Southern Athletic Association Tournament by knocking off top-seeded Birmingham-Southern College 60-55 at Bill Battle Coliseum Sunday afternoon.

With the win, the third-seeded Warriors (18-10) qualify for the NCAA Division III Tournament for the fourth time in program history, joining the 1996, 1997 and 2000 squads to make it.

The host Panthers (17-11) jumped out to an 18-4 lead and led 20-11 at the end of the first quarter. Hendrix fought back to cut the deficit to 27-24 at halftime.

The Warriors started the third quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 31-27 advantage with 6:36 left in the period and would lead 46-44 headed into the final quarter. BSC took a 55-53 lead with three minutes remaining in the game. Hendrix scored the final seven points of the game with junior forward Heather Prowse tying it up, then junior center Sara Dyslin putting the Orange & Black up with a layup  at the 1:10 mark.

Prowse, who was named the tournament MVP, went 3-for-4 at the line in the final 11 seconds of the game to put the game out of reach for the Panthers.

For the game, the Warriors shot 37.7 percent (20-of-53) from the field, 6-of-18 from three-point range and 14-of-18 at the free throw line. They also recorded 30 rebounds, five assists, nine turnovers, three blocks and 10 steals. The Panthers shots 41.7 percent (20-of-48) overall, 7-of-15 from three-point territory, 8-of-12 at the line and had 33 boards, eight assists, 14 turnovers, two blocks and three steals.

Hendrix Notes
– Prowse scored a season-high 20 points with nine rebounds to lead the Warriors.
– Dyslin, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, had 13 points, six rebounds and a blocked shots.
– Junior center Madison Martin added nine points, seven boards, a block and a steal off the bench.
– Leah Smith and Leah Boehl each scored six points.
– Freshman guard Amber Turner had a season-high five steals to go with three points and three rebounds.
– Senior guard Hailey Bode registered three points, two rebounds, a block and a pair of steals.
– Sophomore forward Maddie Anderson had two assists and two steals.

Birmingham-Southern Notes
– Emilee Olsen led the Panthers with 11 points and seven rebounds.
– Laura Van Peursem tallied eight points, five boards, three assists and a block.
– Jothani Dixon and Jameice Holmes each scored nine points.
– Camillia Carter had eight points, five rebounds and three assists.

Up Next
Hendrix will find out their destination in the NCAA Division III Tournament on the selection show at 1:30 p.m. Monday. The selection show can be seen at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule.