The Lancers pulled within a single digits a few times, but the Thunderbirds always had an answer. Southern Utah never let CBU get comfortable the rest of the way, leading by as much as 13 in the wire-to-wire win. But the Thunderbirds had something to prove and let the Lancers know it early.ĭaugherty had 6 points in the first six minutes as the Thunderbirds converted on 7-of-11 shot attempts and en route to an 18-9 lead before CBU's press inched the Lancers back within four, 21-17, after the first quarter. Tomekia Whitman had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Daylani Ballena scored 14 for Southern Utah (23-9), which punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament in the program's first conference tournament final since 1996.Ĭhloe Webb scored 21 points to lead California Baptist (19-13), which played in its first WAC Tournament final since becoming eligible for the NCAA Tournament after transitioning from Division II (the Lancers won the 2021 tournament, but went to the NIT due to reclassification restrictions). Williamson added 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Megan Jensen had 12 points, five rebounds and three assists for the Thunderbirds. (Photo: Courtesy, Western Athletic Conference) Southern Utah guard Cherita Daugherty off the dribble during the Western Athletic Conference tournament final against California Baptist, Saturday, Maat Orleans Arena in Las Vegas. 'The support that our community shows, our fans love us like we're family, our coaches are one big family. 'The fans out there were crazy it felt like a home game,' Daugherty said.

The junior college transfer has been beloved by her adopted community in Cedar City, and when the throngs of SUU fans poured in Orleans Arena - making a decidedly pro-Thunderbirds crowd clad in red-and-black, leaving only a sliver of blue-clad GCU supporters - she could feel it. Everyone wanted a piece of the star guard playing in the final postseason of her electric collegiate career, one that averaged 12.6 points and 3.3 assists over 86 games in three years, and for good reason. Moments after the confetti fell on the Thunderbirds' first WAC title - the first conference tournament title since playing in the makeshift American West Conference in 19 - Daugherty was surrounded by hordes of adoring fans. 'I think we've been tested a lot as a team, and to come out on the other side is really special.' 'To win the regular season and then come in and win the conference tournament is a really hard thing to do,' said Daugherty, who saved the Thunderbirds' season with a miraculous game-winner in their first postseason game against New Mexico State and didn't need anything close to it Saturday. 2 seed into the WAC Tournament due to the conference's newly installed resume seeding system.ĭaugherty scored 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists to lead five players in double figures as Southern Utah led throughout en route to a 82-73 win over California Baptist in Saturday's tournament title game at Orleans Arena. 2 scorer in Cherita Daugherty (18.1).īut when it came time for the postseason, the Thunderbirds took the No. LAS VEGAS - Southern Utah women's basketball team won more games than any other team in the Western Athletic Conference, produced the league's leading rebounder in Lizzy Williamson (10.0), and had the No.

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