Box Score

     WAXAHACHIE, Texas - Junior Shawndrika Courtney amassed 18 points and 19 rebounds but that was not enough as Texas Wesleyan fell to #1 Houston Baptist, 88-62, in the championship game of the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.

     Houston Baptist (33-2) opened the game on a 19-7 run in the first six minutes of the first half. Arie Wilson led the way with five points during the stretch, while Stephanie Stoglin added five points as well.

     Texas Wesleyan (23-10) fought back with a 6-0 run in the next three minutes led by sophomore Britney Helton's four points. Junior Shanwdrika Courtney added the other bucket as the Lady Rams got back into the game at 19-13, with 11:24 left in the game.

     The Lady Huskies answered with a 24-13 the rest of the first half to take a 43-26 lead into the break. Wilson led the Lady Huskies with 13 points in the first frame.

     In the second half, a layup by senior Kashae Townsend at the 11:40 mark, capped off a 16-8 run by the Lady Rams to bring them within, 51-42. Townsend had four points during the stretch, while both sophomore Nastassia Brown and Courtney both had five points in the same stretch.

     The top-ranked Lady Huskies then took over outscoring the Lady Rams, 37-20 the rest of the way.

     Helton tallied 10 points and three rebounds for Texas Wesleyan, while Brown finished with five points and five rebounds. Sophomore Stephanie Sewell scored seven points, pulled down three rebounds and collected two steals.

     Wilson led Houston Baptist with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Stoglin ended the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

     Houston Baptist outrebounded Texas Wesleyan, 48-44, and pulled down 20 offensive rebounds. The Lady Rams were also forced into 29 turnovers.

     Texas Wesleyan shot 36 percent (20-56) from the floor and 57 percent (20-35) from the charity stripe. The Lady Rams also shot 25 percent (2-8) from the three-point line.

     Houston Baptist shot 45 percent (33-73) from the field and 67 percent (16-24) from the free-throw line. The Lady Huskies also shot 40 percent (6-15) from behind the arc.

     Texas Wesleyan will be back in action March 16-22, when they take part in the 2004-05 NAIA National Championship Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. This is the first time in school history the Lady Rams have made it to Nationals. Check www.ramsports.net for information on the tournament.