Lady Aggies lock up second in LSC North

GAME BOXSCORE >>

LAWTON, Okla. (Feb. 28) - Sophomore Brittany Cooksey poured in a game-high 21 points, helping Cameron overcome an eight-point first half deficit on Saturday afternoon at Aggie Gym. The Lady Aggies defeated Lone Star Conference North Division front-runner Northeastern State 59-50, locking up second place in the division and securing a home playoff game in the first round of next week's LSC postseason tournament.

The win improved coach Dick Halterman's squad to 15-12 overall and 8-4 in league play. Northeastern, which enters the conference tourney next week as the top seed from the North, dipped to 21-6 and 9-3.

Sophomore forward Melisa Steen was the only other Cameron player in double-figures with 10 points. Senior Kimberle Woods added eight points and a game-high nine rebounds, becoming Cameron's all-time career rebounds leader in the process. Cameron shot nearly 50 percent from the field in the game (20-of-43) and was 15-of-18 from the free throw line while outrebounding NSU 33-30.

Northeastern got 13 points from sophomore guard Bobbi Truelove and 11 from sophomore guard Cara Busson.

Northeastern State had control early in the game, stretching the Cameron defense while hitting 7-of-16 shots from three-point range in the first half. The Lady Reds led by as many as eight on two occasions in the opening period. Mindy Foster's three-pointer at the 11:17 mark made it 19-11, while Rikki Hall hit a jumper with 1:46 left in the half to put NSU up 31-23.

But Cameron battled back. The Lady Aggies scored the final six points of the period to make it a two-point game at halftime and Cooksey connected on a three-pointer in the opening minute of the second period to bring Cameron within one at 33-32.

Cameron had its first lead of the contest since opening the game with a 2-0 lead three minutes later, when Christina Buben's jumper ignited a 6-0 Cameron run that made it 40-35. The Lady Aggies led the rest of the way, holding off numerous NSU charges along the way.

Kelli Griffith's jumper with 7:18 to play briefly tied the score at 46-46, but another 6-0 run put the Lady Aggies back in control.

Cameron converted 7-of-8 from the free throw line over the final 49 seconds to secure the victory and the Lady Aggies' first home playoff game since the 2002-03 season, when Cameron made its first-ever appearance in the NCAA II women's basketball national tournament.

Cameron awaits either 17th-ranked Angelo State or Eastern New Mexico as its opponent for Tuesday's opening-round action in the Lone Star Conference postseason tournament. Abilene Christian defeated Eastern New Mexico on Saturday to earn the No. 2 seed in the South Division. An Angelo State victory over 19th-ranked West Texas A&M on Saturday night would give the Rambelles the third seed. A West Texas victory would push ASU to fourth in the division, giving Eastern New Mexico the third seed. West Texas A&M has already secured the top seed in the division and will face the fourth seed from the LSC North on Tuesday.

Cameron's home playoff game will be played at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Aggie Gym. No season tickets or other passes will be allowed, per Lone Star Conference regulations. Tickets will be $6 for adults and $3 for children and students with a school ID.

For complete Lone Star Conference postseason tournament information, visit the LSC online at http://lonestarconference.org.