POINT LOOKOUT, MO - The third seeded Clinton College women's basketball team fell just short at the NCCAA National Tournament on Wednesday night going down to 6th seed Oakland City University (IN) 60-51 in the national quarterfinals. The tournament is being played at the College of the Ozarks in southern Missouri.
The Lady Bears got their national tournament started by battling NAIA foe Oakland City Mighty Oaks (22-11) on Wednesday. OCU got ahead 20-14 after one quarter before Clinton outscored them 17-8 in the second to take a 31-28 halftime lead. Oakland then took back the lead with an 18-9 third quarter to lead 46-40 going into the fourth. Oakland, however increased their lead to 13 points at 55-42 midway through the fourth while holding off CC as the Bears could get no closer than 8 points the rest of the way.
Clinton shot 34 percent from the field voerall but sgruggled from three-point range making just one of 14 but did out-rebound the Oaks 46-29. OCU shot 32.5% overall and 35.5% from three.
Senior center Diamond Moore-Heath led the Bears with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds while senior forward Koutney Emglsh added 10 points, 7 rebounds, a block and a steal. Junior guard Tameah Gaddis posted 9 points, 5 rebounds and a block while guards Jala Hutchins and Kayla Pope combined for 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. The Leslie sisters, Jabrica and Shabrica, also combined for 6 points and 7 rebounds.
Clinton (22-4) then fell into the consolation bracket and went on to battle the #7 seed University of Northwestern (MN) on Thursday morning but lost 90-64 as the Bears would then fall into the 7th place game on Friday afternoon. Clinton will end their first ever national tournament run with their final game against #8 seed Ohio Christian Friday at 2 pm.
In the consolation game on Thursday, the Bears were led by 18 points again from Moore-Heath and her 7 rebounds while guard, Hutchins, added 10 points. Jabrica Leslie then recorded 11 points off the bench with 3 boards and a steal while Shabrica Leslie had 7 points. Forward Alesha Canady also tallied 7 rebounds with 4 points, 2 assists and a block while guards Kiki Joiner and Gaddis combined for 6 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists and five steals.
UNW got off to a fast start outscoring Clinton 28-6 in the 1st quarter while taking a 47-26 halftime lead. UNW then added 33 more points in the third quarter before Clinton controlled the fourth 20-10. UNW shot 50 percent overall while making 15 threes and 15 free throws whereas Clinton shot 34.5 % but zero threes and only 6 free throws. Clinton outrebounded UNW 41-37 and forced 23 turnovers.
Pictured below is junior guard and South Region Player of the Year, Tameah Gaddis
