Late basket lifts Shaw women to semifinals

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- Brittney Spencer's pass didn't look like it would reach the intended target. Without the junior guard's vision, Shaw's women's team likely would have seen its storybook season come crashing down. Spencer hit Brittany Ransom with a pass that eluded the fingertips of two Metro State defenders in the closing seconds of Tuesday afternoon's Division II national quarterfinal at St. Joseph Civic Arena.

Ransom's spinning layup bounced off the glass and caromed around the rim and down as time expired to give the Bears a 46-45 win.

The Spencer-Ransom connection provided a thrilling end to a game in which both teams shot just a shade over 30 percent. The hero proved to be a reserve guard who averages only 6.8 points per game.

Metro State loses at buzzer in women's Elite Eight

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Brittany Ransom's layup at the buzzer knocked Metro State out of the women's basketball NCAA Division II Elite Eight on Tuesday. The Roadrunners lost 46-45 to Shaw (N.C.) University. Their season ended at 30-3, while Shaw improved to 24-11.

"I knew the ball was coming," Ransom, who scored a game-high 13 points, told the The (Charlotte) News & Observer. "I didn't know how much time was left, but I had to make the basket somehow." Metro State, which led virtually the entire game, held a four-point lead with 19 seconds left after Jasmine Cervantes made 1-of-2 free throws for the Roadrunners.

But Kyria Buford, who was 2- for-17 from the field in the game, made a 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds remaining to cut Metro State's lead to 45-44.

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