Box Score
MOBILE, Ala.- The women's basketball team closed out the regular season on the road with a Southern States Athletic Conference victory Thursday night over Spring Hill College 83-56. The Blazers finish the regular season with an overall record of 23-6 and a Southern States Athletic Conference record of 16-2. Belhaven already clinched the SSAC West Division title this past Saturday with an 83-79 win over Faulkner University. The win also secured the team's second consecutive automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament for the second consecutive season.

The Blazers took control of the contest early constructing a 16 point lead half way through the first half. Belhaven (23-6, SSAC 16-2) utilized strong defensive play holding Spring Hill to a first shooting percentage of 27.3 (6 of 22) from the floor while generating 16 points off of Badger turnovers. Senior forward Jessica Barlow pushed the Blazer lead out to 24 on a basket with 5:24 left in the half. Junior guard Sarah Carr then helped the Blazers close out the half with a jumper granting the Blazers their largest lead of the first half at 26.

Belhaven never relinquished control of the game vaulting to a 32 point advantage on an Erika Leflore jumper with 10:47 to go in the game. Junior Portia Tucker then got into the mix knocking in a jumper to give the Blazers their largest lead of the contest at 35. Spring Hill's (9-18, SSAC 4-13) Jackie Higgenbotham hit a three with 1:26 left making it 78-52. Keishara Rouser put the Blazers up by 30 again on a jumper with under a minute to play. Tempey Hamilton scored a basket for the Badgers as the clock expired resulting in the final tally of 83-56.

Belhaven shot a season best 55.6 percent (35 for 63) from the floor with senior guard Regena Jackson leading the way with 16 points, six assists, and seven steals. Barlow tallied 15 points off the bench and a team high eight rebounds. Tucker and Carr rounded out the double figure scoring for the Blazers with 11 points apiece. The Blazers forced 24 turnovers in the contest with 14 of them resulting in Belhaven steals. The miscues by Spring Hill translated into 22 points for the Blazers.

Jackie Higgenbotham led the Badgers on the offensive end of the floor with 12 points. Following Higgenbotham was April Bradford who turned in a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The Badgers shot 36.2% from the field going 17 for 47 on the night. The Badgers were outrebounded by Belhaven 34-33.

Belhaven will now head to Rome, Ga on Thursday to open up the SSAC Tournament as the top seed in the West Division. Thursday's potential opponents and time will be determined this weekend.