SALEM, Va. --- The Lynchburg College women's basketball team defeated Guilford College 62-55 Sunday to take home the 2016 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title, the first conference crown in school history. Sophomore forward Caroline Naumann earned tournament Most Outstanding Performer honors, racking up double-doubles in each of the three Hornet tournament wins.
The Hornets withstood an 8-0 start by Guilford to begin the game, and trailed 16-10 at the end of the first period. The Quakers hit a three pointer to begin the second quarter, but LC climbed back with an 11-1 run to go ahead 21-20. Chaney Forbush had five points in the surge while Naumann had four. GC entered halftime ahead 26-25.
The Hornets re-took the advantage in a tightly contested third quarter, outscoring the Quakers 18-13 to go ahead 43-39 with 10 minutes to play.
Lynchburg quickly opened an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter, netting the first seven points. Guilford cut the advantage to 57-51 with just under three minutes to play on a three-pointer by Lauren Ramsey, but sophomoreOlivia DeFrancesco answered with a three-pointer of her own to extend the lead back to nine. Naumann drew a charge with 16 seconds left with LC leading 61-55 to seal the game for Lynchburg.
Naumann finished with 15 points, a game-high 18 rebounds and two assists, hitting 7-of-11 from the floor.
Forbush contributed 14 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots, while junior guard Sarah Coronel had 10 points and four boards. Senior guard Sammi Goldsmith posted eight assists, four points and three rebounds andCharmaine Hairston netted eight points. DeFrancesco finished the afternoon with seven points, three assists and two steals.
Anais Weatherly led Guilford (21-5) with 13 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals. Heaven Walters tallied 10 points while Amy Stellar had nine. The Hornets out-rebounded GC 45-34.
Naumann, Forbush and Coronel were named to the ODAC All-Tournament Team. Naumann averaged 16 points and 14.3 rebounds in the three tourney wins, hitting 58 percent of her shots from the field.
The Hornets (24-4) earn the ODAC's automatic NCAA Tournament bid. The D3 Women's Tournament Selection Show is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday, view the show here.
LC enters its first NCAA Tournament with a program-record 24 victories and a 10-game winning streak.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Heaven Walters, GC
Anais Weatherly, GC
Sarah Coronel, LC
Chaney Forbush, LC
Caroline Naumann, LC (MOP)
--- This release is courtesy of the Lynchburg College sports information department. ---
www.lynchburgsports.com