BELMONT, N.C. - Maria Kuhlman scored 21 points in the second half and overtime periods to lead the Belmont Abbey women's basketball team to a 68-62 overtime win over Barton, and a Conference Carolinas championship.  It is the second year in a row the team has qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first quarter was back and forth, with the teams trading leads.  The defense held Barton scoreless in the last two minutes of the period, though the Bulldogs led 15-10 when the quarter ended
• Alexis Schulz only needed 27 seconds into the second to score for The Abbey.  A jumper by Kuhlman in the final minute of the period pulled Belmont Abbey to within 13 at 33-20 at halftime
• The third quarter was all Abbey.  Spivey scored four points in the opening minutes to make it a 35-26 game.  Later in the period, Kuhlman scored nine straight point to pull the Crusaders within two, at 37-35
• Schulz ended the quarter with a layup, and Barton held a narrow 45-42 lead heading into the final period
• The Crusader defense did not give up a Barton field goal over the first four minutes of the fourth.  Later in the half, BAC went on a 9-0 run in a span of 1:07 to tie the game at 55 with three minutes left
• A buzzer-beater by Allie Downing forced overtime
• Barton scored the first five points of the overtime period, but they would not score another point after that.  Eight straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Kuhlman, put The Abbey in front 65-62.  The Crusaders made their free throws at the end to finish the game on an 11-0 run, and wrap up the 68-62 victory
• On the day, Kuhlman scored a game-high 23 points, including 6-for-7 from three-point range
• Keyanna Spivey had a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds
• Kelli Thomas added eight points and six blocked shots

UP NEXT

Belmont Abbey claims the Southeast Region's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, and the NCAA's selection show airs tonight at 10 p.m.