SOUTH BEND, Ind.- The Indiana University South Bend Titans (29-1, 19-1 CCAC) defeated the Olivet Nazarene University Tigers (16-15, 11-9 CCAC) by a final score of 91-87 to win the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship.
Saturday’s CCAC Tournament Championship victory clinches the Titans their second consecutive tournament crown.
IU South Bend jumped out to a commanding early lead, outscoring the Tigers 25-10 through the first quarter, led by Maddie Gard who scored 13 first quarter points.
Olivet Nazarene answered in the second quarter, outscoring the Titans by nine to cut their deficit to just six points heading into halftime.
Trading baskets in the third quarter, each team scored 22 points, keeping the IUSB lead at six going into the fourth quarter.
Olivet Nazarene brought the game within three points at 85-82 before a Tenleigh Phelps layup and two made free throws from Emma Fisher and Sullivan Kessler put the game on ice, clinching the CCAC Tournament Championship for the Titans by a final score of 91-87.
Saturday’s conference championship featured four Titans to score in double figures, led by Tenleigh Phelps who finished with a game high 30 points.
Phelps’ 30 points came on nearly 70% shooting from the field (11-16) while sinking all five free throws that she attempted while falling just two rebounds shy of a double-double.
The next Titan to score in double figures was senior guard Jazmen Watts who finished with 19 points.
Watts’ 19 points came on nearly 50% shooting from the field while converting on three triples and hauling in six rebounds.
Another player to score in double figures for IU South Bend was guard Maddie Gard who finished with 17 points.
Gard’s 17 points came on better than 60% shooting from the field (5-8) and converting six of the seven free throws that she took in just 23 minutes of action.
The last Titan to reach double figures in the scoring column was Katie Gard who finished with 14 points.
Gard’s 14 points came on two three point field goals and six made free throws while playing in all but two minutes of the game.
The Indiana University South Bend Titans await the site and location of their opening round NAIA National Tournament game which gets announced at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, March 7th. That game will take place on Friday, March 15th.