Box Score

PINEVILLE, La. – Louisiana College became the first east division team in the 12-year history of the American Southwest Conference to win the championship with a 73-69 overtime victory over McMurry University Sunday in the ASC title game at H.O. West Fieldhouse. The Wildcats outscored McMurry 5-0 in the final 48 seconds of overtime to gain the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament next weekend and the first ASC Title in school history.

McMurry senior Amanda Peters hit three free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime. With five seconds left, LC's Voneshia Williams hit a jumper to put the Wildcats up 62-59. However, the senior Peters, was fouled on a 3-point attempt to try and force the game to overtime, instead on LC's home floor, she drained three-straight free throws to force overtime.

Kelsey Lindemuth gave McMurry its last lead of the game with 1:07 remaining when she hit her fifth 3-point field goal of the game to put McMurry up 69-68. However, the Wildcats' Christy Pantallion converted an unconventional 3-point play with 36 seconds to put LC up two. After a missed shot by McMurry, Tillisha Givens was fouled on the rebound and sunk one of two free-throw attempts to give LC a 3-point lead.

McMurry had two looks at a 3-point shots to force another tie with 12 and seven seconds respectively, but neither fell and Pantallion added one more free throw with seven seconds left to seal the game.

Givens, the ASC Tournament MVP finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Pantallion, an all-tournament team selection, finished with 22 points and six steals. Voneshia Williams was also a part of the ASC all-tournament team and finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

LC shot 36 percent for the game, but was 17 of 38 in the second half and overtime period combined. The Wildcats turned the ball over 14 times, but grabbed 15 steals on McMurry's 28 turnovers.

Peters, an all-tournament team selection, finished with eight points and five assists. Lindemuth was McMurry's other representative on the all-tournament team and she provided 22 points off the bench with eight rebounds and two steals. McMurry shot 37 percent for the game and out-rebounded the Wildcats 48-43.

Al in all, the ASC Championship game was all it could be, there were 23 lead changes and 12 ties in he contest. Since the first ASC Tournament in 1999, Hardin-Simmons has six titles, Howard Payne has four and McMurry one; theWildcats become the first east division team to win it all, and up until this season, were 0-3 all-time in ASC Tournament competition.

McMurry's season ends with an 18-10 record while the Wildcats improve to 24-2 heading into the NCAA Tournament. LC was ranked No. 17 in the nation heading into the ASC Tournament.

Peters was McMurry's lone senior and will finish her career as a 3-time academic all-ASC selection. With 2010 postseason accolades still pending, she already has an ASC West all-defensive team selection in 2009. As a senior, she's set career highs in points and rebounds. She will leave McMurry with 114 career games played, which would make her among the top five in school history.