The No. 3 ranked Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ Lady Bulldogs are back in the TranSouth Conference finals with a 78-70 win over Berry College. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ improves to 32-2 on the season while Berry falls to 23-11 overall. While Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ is assure a spot in the national tournament, Berry is now a team waiting and hoping for an atlarge bid. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ will play Freed-Hardeman at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 10 at Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ for the conference championship.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ scored first and led 5-2 early. Berry then went on a 16-2 run to take an eleven point lead (18-7) at the 11:37 mark. That would prove to be Berry's largest lead of the game. Over the next two-plus minutes, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ went on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 20. It was back and forth for the remainder of the half until Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ closed the first half with a 6-0 run to take a 40-36 lead at the break. In the second half, Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ maintained a lead for the remainder of the game and led by as many as 12 points during the half. Berry cut the lead to four points at 61-57, with under 10 minutes remaining. That was as close as Berry got as Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ built up an 11-point lead. A late three by Berry's Cason cut the final deficit to eight at 78-70. Both teams shot very well from the field. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ posted 51% from the field including 58% (7-12) from behind the arc. Berry shot 54% from the field and 55% (6-11) from three point land. Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ forced 31 Berry turnovers and scored 34 points off those turnovers. Berry outrebounded Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ 36-18 in the game.
Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ was led by two All-Conference performers as Jessica Henson poured in 32 points and Ginger Bryant added 21 for Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ. Tashekia Brown scored 15 opints for the Lady Bulldogs. Henson made 6-of-8 three pointers, including 3-of-3 in the first half. Berry was led by All-Conference players Sheri Brooks and Cori Cason with 15 points each. Neeley McDaniel added 14 for the Lady Vikings.