Game 1: Central Michigan 96, Coastal Carolina 42

Game 2: Evansville 69, Valparaiso 67

With two seconds left on the clock, junior Briyana Blair’s strong left-handed layup gave the University of Evansville women’s basketball team a, 69-67, first round win over Valparaiso University in the Heritage Federal Credit Union Aces Classic. Evansville (4-2) will play Central Michigan (4-2) in the championship game tomorrow at 3:30pm CST at Roberts Stadium.

 

Following Central Michigan’s trouncing of Coastal Carolina, 96-42, in the first game of the evening, fans were treated to a nail-biter of a game between the Aces and Crusaders. In just the first half alone, the lead changed seven times, including an Evansville comeback from a nine-point deficit.

 

Valpo jumped out to a 16-7 advantage on Betsy Adam’s three-pointer at the 14:57 mark, but UE responded with a 17-7 run, capped by junior Chelsea Falkenstein’s three to put the Aces up 24-23 with 10:24 remaining in the half. From there, the teams traded baskets with the largest margin being four points on Stephanie Bamberger’s free throw with just under a minute to play. Evansville took a 38-36 lead into the locker rooms, despite losing the battle of the boards 23-14 and shooting 36.1% (13-for-36) compared to Valpo’s 53.8% (14-for-26).

 

The Crusaders started the second half with an 8-0 run, but tri-captain and lone senior Bamberger shifted the game’s momentum with a three to end the scoring drought. The Aces went on to take the lead, 46-44, on Bamberger’s three with 16:02 to go.

 

The lead changed six times in the second half. Samantha Heck’s three-pointer with 7:31 remaining gave the Aces the upper hand for the rest of the game, but Valpo’s Adams tied it up, knocking down a third-chance three with 22 seconds left. Blair took over from there on UE’s final possession to send the Aces to the championship.

 

“Briyana had an all-around great game for us,” said Murphy. “She did a great job being disciplined on defense and her ability to score in a variety of ways offensively created great opportunities for us.” Blair finished with a career-high 17 points, along with five rebounds, four assists, and three steal.

 

Heck’s 16 and Bamberger’s career-high 15 points, including four threes, steered the Aces, as Adams led Valpo with 22 points and Tabitha Gerardot's double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds) piloted the Crusaders.