Posted on March 16, 2014 7:14 PM
WKU scored 18 of the final 22 points of the game Saturday in New Orleans to beat Arkansas State and win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship, erasing a 14 point second-half deficit to win at New Orleans. It was the fourth time this season that WKU has overcome a double-digit deficit to win a game this season.
Tournament MVP Chastity Gooch of Franklin had 26 points and 12 rebounds to lead WKU to the NCAA Tournament for the 10th time in program history. Redshirt freshman Kendall Noble hit a layup with 1:21 remaining in the game that would become the difference maker in the one-point win. Noble finished with 12 points.
WKU (24-8, 13-5) has now won 10 consecutive games to end the season, including three wins in the Sun Belt Conference Championships by a combined 11 points. WKU has now won its 10th Sun Belt Conference Tournament title and first 2008. Head coach Michelle Clark-Heard becomes just the second WKU coach to win a conference tournament championship in their first two seasons at WKU. Former coach Mary Taylor-Cowles won a title in 2003 in her first year at WKU.
WKU will learn its seeding and first round opponent for the upcoming NCAA Tournament on Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT during the Selection Show on ESPN. Coverage follows on ESPNU at 7 p.m.
NCAA TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION: Tickets for the 2014 NCAA Tournament will be available through WKU beginning Monday night following the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. This is the only outlet to receive tickets in the WKU cheering sections. Prices are determined by the host school. Fans can purchase tickets online on Monday evening at wkusports.com or on Tuesday morning beginning at 8 a.m. when the ticket office opens at 1-800-5-BIG-RED or in person at the E.A. Diddle Arena Box Score. First priority on ticket allocation will be based on Hilltopper Athletic Foundation Priority Rank. More detailed information regarding tickets will be available on Monday evening following the tournament selections. WKU’s first round game could be at any one of 16 locations, including Lexington, Knoxville and West Lafayette, Ind.
SELECTION SHOW PARTY ON MONDAY: WKU will host a NCAA Tournament Selection Show watch party for the Western Kentucky University Lady Topper Basketball program on Monday evening at Mister B’s Pizza and Wings in Bowling Green. It is located at 1945 Scottsville Rd #300. Head coach Michelle Clark-Heard, the coaching staff and the members of the Lady Toppers team will be present to learn their first round opponent in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Fans are encouraged to begin arriving at 5 p.m. with the selection show beginning at 6. Festivities will conclude by 7. Lady Topper Basketball team posters will also be available for the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Tournament Champions to autograph at the event.