From LU athletics:

CONWAY, S.C. No. 3 seed Winthrop will play in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com Big South Women's Basketball Championship game for the first time since 1996 after posting a hard-fought 65-59 victory over the two-time defending tournament champion, No. 2 seed Liberty, in Saturday evening's semifinal clash at The HTC Center.

Now 23-8, Winthrop will face No. 1 seed High Point (22-9) in the championship game Sunday at 5 p.m. on ESPN3. The Panthers notched a 73-69 victory over No. 4 seed Campbell in Saturday evening's first semifinal tilt. This is the first time in tournament history that neither Liberty nor Radford will appear in the championship game.

Liberty, which had defeated the Eagles during both regular-season matchups, falls to 20-11. The Lady Flames, who failed to advance to the Big South Championship title game for the first time since 2007, will now hope for their second WNIT bid in program history. The WNIT field will be announced on March 17.

Trailing by nine points with 4:10 remaining, Liberty reeled off seven of the game's next eight points. Mickayla Sanders' spinning hoop in the paint with 47.1 seconds left made it a one-possession game at 59-56.

Winthrop then made all six of its free throw attempts the rest of the way, sealing its first-ever tournament victory over Liberty in six tries.

Big South Player of the Year Dequesha McClanahan paced the victors with 15 points, while freshman Erica Williams posted her 10th double-double (14 points, 10 rebounds) of the season. Tiffany Charles came off the bench for a season-high 12 points and four of her team's 11 steals.

The Eagles' Schaquilla Nunn became Winthrop's career blocked shots leader with her lone rejection of the night. The sophomore has already rejected 171 shots in two seasons.

Liberty freshman Mickayla Sanders topped all players with 19 points, and added a career-high eight rebounds. Ashley Rininger's 16th double-double of the year consisted of 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. She also dished out a career-high four assists and blocked three shots.

Katelyn Adams added nine points for the Lady Flames, while Sadalia Ellis distributed a game-high five assists.

Go here to read the rest:

Liberty Women Lose in Big South Semifinals