GALLATIN – The Lady Senators advance to the finals of the TJCCAA/NJCAA Regional tournament with a 73-71 victory over the Saluqis of Southwest Tennessee Community College.  The Lady Senators play at 3 p.m. EDT on the campus of Volunteer State Community College.

Jasmine Coleman poured in 15 points with a 3-point goal, possibly the biggest of her career, that tied the game at 71.  With 20 seconds on the clock, Nakisha Strickland picked a loose ball under her own basket and laid in the winning basket.

The Lady Senators defense held the nations leading scorer, Ashley Shields, to 30 points for the game.

“We played her man-to-man as long as we could,” said WSCC head coach Dave Kragel.  “We wanted to trap her as we got deeper in the game.  It led to some turnovers and kept us close.”

The Lady Senators held Shields, who had a record 65 points against Columbia State earlier in the tournament, to just 12 second half points.

“Southwest is an excellent ball club,” said Kragel.  “It’s like this every game.  Andrea (Martre, Southwest head coach) has her kids ready to play.  Shields is probably the best player I’ve seen in 30 years of coaching in this league.”

The game was knotted at 36 at the half.  Kara Harris buried three 3-pointers in the first half to lead the Lady Senators with 13.  Coleman added eight first half points.

Shields led all scorers with 18 including 7-7 from the foul line. 

Sleeper and Coleman finished the game with 15 points each.  Walker had six points and led the team in rebounding with seven.

“This was a great team effort,” said Kragel.  “Jazz (Coleman) hit the big three near the end.  Kara (Harris) just played a great ball game at the point.  I stayed on Tara (Sleeper) most of the game, and she came up with some great plays.”

Helping Shields with the scoring for Southwest was Brittany Smith with 11 and Starkitsha Luellen with 12.  Shields also had nine rebounds.