Box Score
ROME, Ga.- The Belhaven women's basketball claimed its first Southern States Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday night defeating fifth ranked Lee University 64-54 at the Forum. It is the second conference championship for the women's program and first since 1982 when the Blazers won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championship.

Belhaven (26-6) came into tournament after securing the SSAC West Division title for the second consecutive season in February. By winning the division, the Blazers knew they were going back to the NAIA National Tournament, but were hungry to head to the big dance as outright conference champions. Belhaven, ranked 18th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches poll, played solid on defense and held the Flames to a 30.8 percent shooting night from the field (16 for 52).

Belhaven jumped ahead early scoring the first four points of the game, beginning with a bucket from senior guard Regena Jackson. The Blazers went up 11-4 on a triple by Jackson at the 15:50 mark and that would prove to be the biggest lead of the half for Belhaven. Lee regrouped on a three pointer from Hollie German that turned out to be the beginning of an 11-0 run by the Flames. Lee maintained the advantage for the rest of the half until senior forward Jessica Barlow pulled down an offensive rebound and dropped in a layup to gave the Blazers a 29-28 lead at the buzzer. Lee had gone up by six at 26-20 with 2:26 to play until halftime and then Belhaven outscored the Flames 9-2 over the final two minutes culminating on the Barlow field goal.

Lee (30-3) opened the second half with a basket by Angela Spann that moved her team briefly out in front at 30-29 as the teams traded baskets during the first minute of the final period. With 18:39 to go in the game, junior guard Sarah Carr hit the basket that put Belhaven ahead for good. The Blazers maintained at least a one point lead the rest of the night and some big shots were hit at various points to make sure it stayed that way.

With just under four minutes to play and leading 50-47, Belhaven tallied three consecutive field goals that essentially decided the outcome. Barlow sent home the first off an assist by junior forward Ashley Wakefield followed by two momentum changing shots by Johnson that gave Belhaven a 56-47 lead with just over two minutes to go. Lee got back to within six points at 56-50 with 1:19 left, but free throws by senior forward Portia Tucker and Jackson put any idea of a comeback out of sight and out of mind when it became a 60-50 margin in favor of Belhaven with 44 seconds left.

Belhaven shot 39.2 percent from the floor (20 for 51), sunk 21 out of 25 free-throws (84 percent) and blocked seven shots. Jackson, who was named the SSAC Player of the Year earlier in the week, led the Blazers on offense with a game high 27 points and three assists. Barlow also had a big game for the Blazers with 10 points and six rebounds. Johnson turned in eight points while Wakefield generated seven points off the bench. Johnson and Jackson were named to the All-Tournament Team and Jackson also earned tournament MVP honors.

“This game was a great team effort all the way around,” said Belhaven Head Coach Billy Evans. “We played outstanding intense defense tonight and held one of the best offenses in the country to just over 30 percent shooting from the field. Regena (Jackson) turned in another great performance and everyone made big plays and shots down the stretch. Johnson, Wakefield, Tucker, Carr, Leflore, and Barlow hit some key baskets in the second half that secured the game for us.”

Lee was paced by Hollie German with 26 points followed by Angela Spann who contributed 10 points to the Flames offense, while Lockheart and Latyshava with claimed a team high five rebounds. The Flames outrebounded the Blazers 37-33 in the contest.

Belhaven will be in Frankfurt, KY March 14-20 for the NAIA National Tournament and will find out the seeding and opponent when the NAIA announces the field on Wednesday.