Ticket Punched: Lady Bearcats Enact Revenge In GCAC Championship With 70-48 Rout Of Philander Smith

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Rust College women's basketball program are GCAC Tournament Champions for the first time in school history, earning the conference's automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament with a 70-48 beatdown of Philander Smith on their own court.

GCAC Defensive Player of the Year and All-Tournament Team selection Jasmine Coleman plus All-GCAC First Teamer Katie Blackmon co-led the team in scoring with 14 while Blackmon produced a double-double with a game-best 15 rebounds while shooting 6-of-11 (54.5%) from the floor. Coleman fell only one board shy of a double-double as well, grabbing nine to go along with a game-high three steals, three assists and four three-pointers.

Tournament MVP and All-GCAC First Teamer Shay Johnson went for a game-best seven assists, six points, four rebounds and two steals in a standard stat line for the three-time All-GCAC performer.

Jade Lewis, who's double-double helped lift the Lady Bearcats past Edward Waters in the semifinals, contributed nine points and four rebounds while nailing her only attempt from long range.

Rust College will have to wait until March 5 to find out its location and opponent for the opening round of the national tournament.

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