BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – If there's one team in the Lone Star Conference that won't miss the league's annual pilgrimage to Bartlesville for the post-season conference tournament, it would have to be the ACU Wildcats.
For the third straight season the Wildcats lost in heartbreaking fashion in the LSC Post-Season Tournament, this time dropping a 65-59 decision to No. 9 Northeastern State in the first round of the tournament at Bruin Fieldhouse.
The loss ends the Wildcats' season at 11-16, while the RiverHawks (24-3)advance to the tournament semifinals to face Texas Woman's, surprising 57-56 winner over three-time defending champion West Texas A&M earlier Wednesday.
Two years ago the Wildcats lost to Texas A&M-Commerce on a layup with four seconds to play, and last year they lost a wild triple-overtime contest to Central Oklahoma. And Wednesday night the Wildcats – who led most of the second half – failed to score in the final 2:59 of the contest as the RiverHawks were able to rally for the victory.
"I told the team that I've been to Bartlesville four years in a row and we've suffered some crummy losses here, but I'm as proud of my team tonight as I've ever been," ACU head coach Shawna Lavender said. "We've come so far from where we started this season (0-5) to how we played against Northeastern State, it's just unbelievable."
The game changed with 1:19 to play and the Wildcats still clinging to a 59-57 lead.
Kelsey Smith – who finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds – fouled out, giving the RiverHawks two free throws.
Jasmine Webb, though, missed the front and then missed the second free throw. But Cristy Nitz grabbed the rebound to keep the ball alive for the RiverHawks. She was then fouled by senior
Autumn Whitaker, who fouled out in the process.
Nitz then hit two free throws to tie the game, and after
Renata Marquez missed a shot with 1:02 left and Sarah Green grabbed a rebound, Nitz drained a jumper with 36 seconds left to put the RiverHawks ahead 61-59.
ACU freshman Mack Lankford then turned the ball over with 25 seconds left, dribbling the ball off her leg and giving the RiverHawks possession. Nitz then hit two more free throws with 23 seconds left to make it a 63-59. Tosha Tyler then iced it with two free throws with eight seconds to play.
Lankford finished her freshman season with 18 points, 16 of those coming in the second half. Whitaker had seven points, four steals and six assists.
