LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) - Ashtyn Baker scored all 12 of her points in the second quarter and top-seeded Liberty pulled away from third-seeded UNC Asheville on Sunday to win the Big South championship for the 17th time, 60-42, and earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Molly Regan’s 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in the first half gave the Flames (18-14), who have won eight straight, the lead for good, 23-21, but they didn’t take control until the fourth quarter. KK Barbour’s 3 to open the scoring made it 42-34 and Baker followed with a layup. After two free throws for Asheville (23-10), Baker scored four points.
The two-time defending champion Bulldogs, who missed its first six shots of the fourth quarter, finally got a bucket from Tiffany Wilson at 4:26 to make it 48-38. Liberty, which last won the title in 2015, scored the next 10 points, the first six from the foul line, and the lead was 20 with 69 seconds left.
Barbour and Nene Johnson had 10 points apiece for the Flames.
Khaila Webb topped Asheville with 13 points.
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