TULSA, Okla. – St. Edward's women's basketball advanced to its second straight Heartland Conference Tournament championship game Saturday with a 67-60 win over UA Fort Smith.
 
SHAKERA BARNES led all scorers with 20 points and dished out four assists. LEXI FATHEREE scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor. HALEY JOLY led the Hilltoppers on the boards with seven rebounds.
 
St. Edward's (19-8) has won four of its last five games and nine of its last 11. UA Fort Smith closes its season with a record of 17-13 after finishing fourth in the Heartland Conference regular season standings.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• St. Edward's opened hot from the field, shooting 53 percent to take an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• UA Fort Smith used a 9-0 run in the second quarter to take a 28-24 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half.
• Barnes sparked a 10-2 run with 4:24 to play in the second quarter, giving SEU a 36-33 halftime lead.
• The Lady Lions outscored the Hilltoppers 17-13 in the third quarter to take a 50-49 lead into the final period.
• Both teams exchanged blows until Barnes took over with 2:48 remaining in the game.
• Barnes brought St. Edward's back with six unanswered points to make it 63-60 with 1:02 to play.
• Clark, Fatheree, and Joly made their free throws down the stretch to clinch the win.

 
HILLTOPPER NOTES

• Fatheree scored 15 points in 20 minutes of play after struggling with foul trouble.
• Head Coach J.J. Riehl is 6-3 all time in Heartland Tournament play, and has made three championship game appearances in five years.
• The Hilltoppers knocked the Lady Lions out of the tournament in the semifinals last season, 78-63.
• Barnes' 20 points follow up a three-point performance in the quarterfinals against Texas A&M-International.

 
QUOTE BOARD: HEAD COACH J.J. RIEHL
"It was a great game. I want to credit Arkansas Fort Smith. They played a great game, but we just made a few more plays down the stretch. When you have seniors like we do, you feel good about your chances. I thought we were just tougher in the last three minutes."
 
UP NEXT
St. Edward's advances to the Heartland Tournament championship Sunday at noon where they will face either Lubbock Christian or St. Mary's. Live stats and video of the game will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Score: St. Edward's 67, UA Fort Smith 60
Records: St. Edward's (19-8), UA Fort Smith (17-13)
Leading Scorers: St. Edward's-Barnes (20), UA Fort Smith-Haynes (18)
Attendance: 542
 
For the latest information on the St. Edward's University Women's Basketball team, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @SEUWBasketball, or visit us at www.GoHilltoppers.com.