University of Cincinnati-Clermont wins Second-Ever USCAA Women’s Division II National Basketball Championship
#1 Central Maine Community College 51 - #2 University of Cincinnati-Clermont 69
The University of Cincinnati-Clermont Cougars defeated the number one overall seed, Central Maine Community College, 69-51, to win the second-ever USCAA Women’s Division II National Championship. Down at halftime, the Cougars used a strong second half team effort to take control of the game and secure their first USCAA women’s basketball National Championship.
It was a tale of two halves at the Main Arena for the Mustangs of Central Maine. In back and forth action, Central Maine took the lead at the 16:38 mark and would hold onto it for the rest of the half. The Mustangs used a strong shooting performance to take a halftime lead (34-31) as they shot nearly 50% from the floor. Keeping the Cougars in the game was Tournament MVP, Stacie Lee, who tallied 10 points and 7 rebounds but couldn’t prevent the Mustangs from having momentum going into the half.
However, the Cougars picked up the defensive intensity a notch and bothered the Mustangs in the second half, allowing them to shoot just 21% (7-34) and outrebounding them 30-17. Stacie Lee continued her strong play in the second half with another 10 points and 7 rebounds. University of Cincinnati-Clermont would take the lead for good with 16 minutes left to go in the game, shooting 57% in the half to increase their lead to double-digits.
Pacing the Mustangs was 1st Team All-American and All-Tournament Team member, Susie French, who posted 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Yankee Conference Champions end their season with a 27-4 record.
USCAA 1st Team All-American, Stacie Lee, finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds. Lee, who missed the 2013 National Championship tournament after being hospitalized in Uniontown the day before the tournament began, ends her playing career with a dominating three-game stretch in her return to Uniontown. Fellow USCAA 1st Team All-American Ashley Keith, who made the 2014 All-Tournament Team, contributed to the win with 18 points and 7 rebounds.
2014 Women’s Division II All-Tournament Team
Taylor Sullivan – Albany College of Pharmacy
Milan Germany – Berkeley College-New York
Susie French – Central Maine Community College
Dana Finney – University of Cincinnati-Clermont
Ashley Keith – University of Cincinnati-Clermont
2014 Women’s Division II Tournament MVP
Stacie Lee – University of Cincinnati-Clermont
-USCAA