‘Big Three’ leads Shaw into Div. II National Final Tonight

NCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 2012,

TIME: 8:00 PM EDT

TV: CBSSPORTS CHANNEL (check your local listing)

INTERNET: NCAA.COM VIDEO STREAM - CLICK HERE

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Jacques Curtis wearied of the sameness in college basketball. He was going to do something about it to not only shake things up, but give his Shaw team a better chance to win.

It was last season and he knew he had a star in 6-foot-1 forward Demaria Liles, but his team was struggling. Why, Curtis reasoned, was because his team was using the style of basketball everyone else was playing. Shaw would play with three guards and two big people in the front court, their opponents would do likewise. With the strength of the offense being with the three guards, the team with the better trio, Curtis said, wins. That wasn’t a good thing for Shaw.

“We didn’t think we could put three guards out there better than theirs,” Curtis said. “But if we could put three bigs out there, we’re better than anybody. That’s when we created our triple post offense.”

2011/12 SHAW UNIVERSITY LADY BEARS ROSTER

It helped Shaw make it to the Elite Eight last season and it has been the primary reason Shaw (28-6) is in Friday night’s championship game against Ashland (33-1).

Shaw advanced to the title game with a textbook night from its “Big Three” – Kyria Buford, Aslea Williams and Chrystal Harris, all 6-1. Each had a double-double and dominated Rollins in an 87-71 win.

Shaw had 48 points in the paint, 37 off of second chances and outrebounded Rollins 61-38.

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Ashland's Daugherty ready to cap run

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Ashland (Ohio) junior forward Kari Daugherty is having a memorable year. She leads the nation in rebounding (13.8) and double-doubles (26) while pacing the Eagles to a 33-1 record.

Now, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Midwest Region Player of the Year is trying to add another memory by leading her team past Shaw (N.C.) for the NCAA Division II championship. Tipoff is set for 7 tonight in Greehey Arena.

“I was hoping we would have a great season,” Daugherty said. “Going into every season you always want to be playing in the last game, but only two teams get to do it. You have to have a good team and a bit of luck. I'm so grateful to be here.”

Daugherty has made her presence felt during Ashland's first Elite Eight appearance. She scored 13 points with 13 rebounds as the Eagles knocked off Alaska-Anchorage 71-51 in the opening round. In a 77-62 semifinal win over Bentley (Mass.), she poured in 31 points and grabbed 22 rebounds.

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Eagles, Lady Bears to Play for First National Titles

SAN ANTONIO – It has been a wild ride in San Antonio for the AU women's basketball team thus far in San Antonio.  Between seeing the Alamo, attending a banquet, handling media requests from across the state, signing autographs for kids at a basketball clinic and attending a pep rally at a local elementary school, the Eagles have managed to squeeze in some basketball.

And those have been some big basketball games. The Eagles toppled No. 8 Alaska-Anchorage on Tuesday and No. 5 Bentley to advance to Friday (March 23) night's NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Game.

The Eagles will play Shaw (N.C.) University in a matchup of two schools looking for their first national titles in a team sport. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. EDT and will air on CBS Sports Network, Mansfield's WMFD and NCAA.com. Fans can attend watch parties on AU's campus at the student center and Kates Gymnasium. Fans at Kates Gymnasium are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

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