GREENVILLE, S.C. – Third-seeded Tusculum shot 60 percent in the fourth quarter and upset top-seeded Anderson, 61-49, as the Pioneers earned the 2020 SAC Pilot Flying J Women's Basketball Championship, Sunday afternoon at Timmons Arena.

 Anderson (26-5) saw its win streak halted at seven games and will await Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show to learn its fate after being ranked fourth in the latest NCAA weekly rankings. Tusculum (24-7), which was making its third straight trip to the SAC Tournament and its 17^th overall, won its third straight game and claimed its sixth win in seven decisions.

"What we need to do is take a day or two to rest," said Anderson head coach J.B. Barbaree. "We'll go back, see who we are going to play, watch some film and get ready. It [the loss} humbles you a little bit. You realize that the ball isn't just going to go in – that you have to execute, especially late in the game. We got good shots and I was comfortable with the players taking the shots."

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Freshman McKenzie Gadson and senior Alexy Mollenhauer shared team-high scoring honors with 15 points apiece, with Mollenhauer pulling down eight rebounds. Junior Taylor Hair netted 10 points, while senior Madison Baggett nearly recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds and a game-high nine assists.

Tusculum's Mia Long scored a game-high 22 points, with teammate Kasey Johnson adding 15.

HOW IT HAPPENED

First Half

With senior Mollenhauer dropping in two early baskets, AU scored the first six points of the game, while the Trojan defense held Tusculum scoreless until Long nailed a trey at the 8:09 mark of the opening quarter. Baggett countered with a 3-pointer on the other end, while Jalia Arnwine followed for the Pioneers with another 3-pointer to set the score at 9-6 at the first media break.

Both teams then suffered a scoring drought, with freshman McKenzie Gadson snapping AU's dry spell by scoring four straight points and sparking a run of six unanswered points. Tusculum went nearly seven minutes without scoring, with the Trojans building a 15-6 advantage before Long converted a traditional three-point play just before the end of the first quarter.

Second Quarter

Both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net in the second quarter, as each squad went just 2-for-14 (14.3 percent). Less than three minutes into the second frame, Gadson dropped in a short jumper to boost AU's advantage to double-digits, at 19-9, while Long responded with a jumper a little less than two minutes later to keep the Pioneers within single digits.

TU's Brianna Dixon added a basket to pull the Pioneers within 19-13 with AU batting through a five-minute dry spell before Mollenhauer finished out the first-half scoring with a pair of free throws at the 1:19 mark.

Third Quarter

The Pioneers opened the second half with two straight baskets to get within 21-17, but AU countered with four consecutive points of its own to quickly equal its eight-point halftime advantage and moments later, Gadson knocked down her first 3-pointer of the afternoon to push the Trojans to their largest lead of the game, at 28-19.

Tusculum then responded with a 13-4 scoring outburst to knot the score for the first time of the afternoon, at 32 apiece, before Gadson connected on 1-of-2 from the line to regain the edge and Mollenhauer converted a rare four-point play by nailing a trey from deep in the right corner and following with the free throw to boost the Trojans to a 37-32 lead.

The Pioneers' Long added her second trey just before the horn to keep TU within one possession entering the final quarter.       

Fourth Quarter

But Tusculum was 6-for-10 from the field over the final 10 minutes, while the Trojans went scoreless for nearly seven minutes and enabled the Pioneers to go on a 19-0 scoring binge, while turning a 41-37 Anderson lead into a 15-point Pioneer advantage with less than two minutes left in the game.  

STAT OF THE GAME

The Trojan defense held Tusculum to 5-of-29 (17.2%) shooting in the first half, but the Pioneers were 14-for-23 (60.9%) over the final two quarters.  

NOTABLES

·       The Trojans won the rebounding battle, 36-25, and pulled down 11 offensive boards.

·       Alexy Mollenhauer and Madison Baggett were named to the All-Tournament Team.

·       The Pioneers won their third SAC Tournament Championship and first since 2011. 

·       Tusculum was making its 17^th appearance in the SAC Tournament.

·       With her third assist of the afternoon, Madison Baggett became the first player in program history to record 500 career assists. 

·       The Trojans were making their 10^th consecutive appearance in the SAC Tournament since joining the league for the 2010-11 season.

·       AU made its second straight appearance in the SAC Tournament championship game and its fourth appearance in six years.

·       The Trojans entered the SAC tourney as the No. 1 seed for the second straight year and fifth time overall.

·       AU was bidding for their second straight SAC Championship title and third overall (2019, 2013).

·       The Trojans were bidding to become the fifth team in the history of the SAC to defend their tournament title (Wingate '16-'17, Tusculum '10-'11, Newberry '06-'07 and Presbyterian '98, '99, '00).

·       The Trojans have won five SAC regular-season titles (2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2013).

·       Tusculum was making its seventh appearance in the finals of the SAC Tournament.

·       The Trojans will be making their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and their 14^th overall appearance (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004).

EXTRA DRIBBLE

"Obviously not the way we wanted to finish but you have to give credit to Tusculum", said head coach Jonathon Barbaree. "They played really well and made timely shots."

I'm proud of our fight and the fact that we got to the championship", added Barbaree. "We will keep our heads high and get ready for the regional."

UP NEXT

The Trojans, who were ranked fourth in the most recent NCAA Regional rankings, will await Sunday night's NCAA Selection Show to learn who their opponent will be and the location of the NCAA Southeast Regional.

The NCAA Southeast Region Tournament is Friday, Saturday and Monday, March 13, 14 & 16 with the site to-be-determined.

Selections for the 2020 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship will be announced at 10 p.m. (Eastern) time, Sunday, via ncaa.com.