Cornerstone Claims WBB Tournament Title

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Sixth-seeded Cornerstone (19-14) won its seventh Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Women's Basketball Tournament after defeating top-seeded Indiana Tech 72-69. The Golden Eagles' title is the first since 2009 and comes with the league's second automatic berth to the 2018 NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship March in Sioux City, Iowa. The last time Indiana Tech (29-4) received the first automatic bid as the regular-season champion.

No. 6 Cornerstone (19-14) def. No. 1 Indiana Tech (29-4), 72-69 box score

On the surface, it was a championship game with little at stake except bragging rights. Both teams knew they were headed to the national tournament: Indiana Tech by way of the regular-season title and Cornerstone for playing in the championship game. But, none of that matters when the whistle blows and the ball is in play. Tonight's game was a game of firsts: The first regular-season title and the first tournament final for Indiana Tech; and the first time in nine years for Cornerstone to play in the finals and the chance to be the first No. 6 seed to win the whole thing.

The game lived up to everything a championship game should be - a close ball game with 11 ties, 13 lead changes, and neither team holding a double-digit advantage. Tech jumped to the early lead and held a 23-17 advantage at the end of the first and entered the half with a one-point lead. Down by four heading into the final period, Cornerstone went the first minute without scoring while the Warriors added five to their lead. Sydney Muller started a 9-1 lead to pull the Golden Eagles to within one midway through the quarter. Half a minute later, Lizzy Otten took over and put the Golden Eagles in front with a jumper.

Keanna Gary tied the game with a free throw at the 1:43 mark, but Otten answered for CU to keep the lead. Indiana Tech wouldn't go away as Rachel Bell evened the score with a shot in the paint only to have Otten spoil the tie with a pair of free throws. Tech made one final push on a DeAnn Kaufman three with four seconds left, but CU iced the crucial free throws for the win.

Four players finished in double figures for Cornerstone: Muller and Cass Vredvoogd each had 17, Otten added 16, and Taylor Richards ended with 12. Muller added seven rebounds and six assists.

Indiana Tech's Gary led all scorers with 28 points and Kaufmann added 24. Kendall Knapke grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and Bell dished out seven assist.