LUBBOCK, TEX. – Shelton State turned the tables on Wabash Valley in a big way on Tuesday night at the NJCAA women's Division I national tournament.
The Bucs trailed 20-10 with 1:30 left in the first quarter when they suddenly turned things around. They started hitting shots, controlling the boards, and creating transition opportunities through solid defense.
Over the next 21 minutes, they outscored the Warriors, 55-15, eventually claiming an 88-54 win that vaults the seventh-seed Bucs into the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Wabash Valley, the No. 10 seed, defeated Independence, 59-29, in its' tourney opener on Monday. The Warrior season ends with a final record of 21-4.
Shelton State (21-4) took a lead it would not relinquish with 7:36 to go in the second period on a 3-point field goal by Jeremiah Moore to make it 23-20, ending a 13-point run by the Bucs.
It was 36-26 at halftime before a 31-14 third-quarter advantage put Shelton State firmly in the driver's seat, leading 67-40 at the end of the third period.
The Bucs held a decisive edge on the boards with a 49-21 rebounding advantage.
Kiki Carney led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points. Three others finished in double figures: Je'Naiya Davis (13 points), Deja Davis (11) and Jazmyn Turner (10).
The Bucs got 27 points from Connie Clark to lead the way. Kirby DeBoard finished the 14.