By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Cincinnati, OH---Mackenzie Heacock made several crucial baskets down the stretch to help lead the No. 9 Express women's basketball team past No. 19 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College 69-65 in the District I championship game yesterday.

Down 23-14 with nine minutes left in the first half, the Express fought back and closed the half on a 21-7 run to take a 35-30 lead. Uniqua Mitchell hit a 3-pointer with just over 10 seconds left to give the Express an eight point lead, but Cincinnati State's Brandi Henschen answered with a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

In the second half, the Express were clinging to a 44-40 lead, but Cincinnati State used a 13-0 run to take a 53-44 lead.

The Express, however, started chipping away again. Heacock hit a 3-pointer from the right wing at the 7:09 mark to pull the Express within one at 57-56. Then, after the teams alternated turnovers and Cincinnati State missed a shot, Heacock drove the lane on a fast break and made a lay-up while getting fouled with 6:11 remaining. With the made free throw, the Express led 59-57.

After a Cincinnati State turnover, Karahn Scott drove the lane and was fouled. She would hit both free throws to put the Express up 61-57. Then, after Cincinnati State came up empty on their next possession, Cincinnati State's Cameron Vaughn, the OCCAC player of the year, fouled out with just six points and seven rebounds at the 5:21 mark.

Scott made 1-of-2 following Vaughn's foul to put the Express up five. Later, with the Express clinging to a 62-60 lead, Heacock missed a 3-pointer from the right corner, but followed her own shot and hit a lay-in to push the lead back to four with 3:22 left. 

Later, with just under two minutes left, Cincinnati State's Kindsay Brandt hit 1-for-2 from the foul line, and then she nailed a jumper following an ensuing offensive rebound to pull her team within one with 2:26 left.

On her team's next possession, after the Express came up empty on offense, Brandt hit 1-for-2 from the line again, but her team was called for a foul after she missed the second attempt. Heacock stepped to the line and hit 1-for-2 from the line. Just like Cincinnati State, however, the Express were called for a loose ball foul on the rebound after a miss on the second attempt.

Cincinnati State, however, only made 1-for-2 from the line, and the game was tied again (65-all, 1:34 left). Scott was then fouled on the other end and made 1-for-2 to give the Express a 66-65 lead with 1:26 left.

After a Cincinnati State turnover, with about 40 seconds left, Heacock drove the right lane and hit a lay-in. Fouled on the play, she converted the 3-point play. After Cincinnati State missed two shot attempts,Breonna House was fouled and made the back end of two free throws with six seconds left to give the Express a four point lead and seal the game.

Cincinnati State's Desiree Ash missed a 3-point attempt as time expired, setting off a celebration for the Express.

Heacock finished with game-highs in points (24) and rebounds (10). Scott added 17 points and seven rebounds. She finished just 3-for-6 from the field, but made 11-for-18 from the foul line. 

Heacock and Scott combined to score 17 of the team's final 21 points after the Express fell behind 53-44 with just under 10 minutes left.

Thus, Cincinnati State was outscored 25-12 to close out the game's final 10 minutes.

As a team, the Express finished 25-for-39 from the line, while Cincinnati State finished 14-for-24.

Danielle Bezeau, who played a team-high 38 minutes, had five rebounds, three steals and a team-high five assists.

Jordyn Bond, House and Meshia Smith each added six points to round out the Express scoring.

Henschen led Cincinnati State with 16 points off the bench, while Brandt added 15 points and a team-high nine rebounds. Hannah Stephenson, who fouled out late, produced 14 points, five rebounds and a team-high five assists (four of which came on the first four Cincinnati State field goals).

Notes

Heacock was named the tournament's MVP, while Scott earned all-tourney recognition. Heacock scored 43 points in two games, while Scott had 32 points and 16 rebounds in two games.

With the win, the Express now advance to the NJCAA D-II National Tournament for the first time since the 2003-04 season. The tournament will be held in Peoria, Ill.

It marks the fifth national tournament appearance in the program's history. They went in 1997-98 (7th place), 1998-99 (8th place), 2002-03 (6th place) and 2003-04 (9th place).

Tournament seeding and first round matchups will likely be announced on Tuesday.

Scott tied the single game record for most free throw attempts in one game with her 18. It ties the mark set by Teresa Miller in 1993.

The Express won both tournament games without the services of starting point guard Nandi Taylor. She will return for national tournament play, which will help give the Express a nice boost.

Express head coach Mike Llanas, in his ninth year, earned his first district championship. He had lost in three previous district championship games.

With their win yesterday, the Express are now 25-7 overall. It marks their fourth straight season of at least 25 wins. Over the past four years, they are now 104-24. 

Cincinnati State was the two-time defending district champions.