HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s women’s basketball postseason surge ended in the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC)/Region 22 title game on Friday, falling to top-seeded Shelton State 88-41 at Tom Drake Coliseum.
Shelton State, the 5th-ranked team in the nation, won its 18th straight game behind 19 points from tournament MVP Coco Knight and three others in double figures.
Wallace State, the North Division’s sixth seed, pulled three consecutive tournament upsets over the last week to earn a spot in Friday’s title game, marking their fourth trip to the finals in five seasons under coach Ron Burdette.
The Lady Lions didn’t have enough firepower or experience to upset the Lady Bucs, who won their ninth conference title since 2006. Shelton State averaged 98.7 points in three tournament games at Wallace State, including posting 111 against Wallace-Selma on Thursday.
Shelton State (31-1) jumped out to 13-6 after the first quarter and led 39-17 at the half.
The Lady Bucs extended their cushion to 88-41 after the third.
Wallace State (14-20) was led by Hannah Vest’s 11 points. Vest, the team’s lone sophomore from North Sand Mountain, was named to the all-tournament team and a part of 42 wins in two seasons with the Lady Lions, including being a member of last season’s NJCAA Division I national tournament team.
Wallace State’s Kelsey Houston and Velencia Johnson were also named to the all-tournament team. Johnson finished with six points in the loss.
Morgan Higgins and D’Andrea Smith each scored five points for the Lady Lions.
LaTangellia Walker had 13 points for Shelton State and Nadia Stewart and Madison Pierce scored 10 apiece.
Shelton State advances to the NJCAA Division I national championships in Lubbock, Texas, later this month.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.
Photo: Wallace State’s Kelsey Houston (24) dribbles around a Shelton State defender in their game Friday.
