BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Tashia Brown scored 17 points and Kendall Noble added 15 to lead top-seeded Western Kentucky to a 67-56 victory over Southern Miss in Sunday's Conference USA women's tournament championship game.
The Lady Toppers (27-6) won their second C-USA tournament title in three years and ride a 12-game win streak into the NCAA Tournament after claiming the automatic bid.
Southern Miss (23-10) couldn't mount a second straight fourth-quarter comeback despite a 25-point game from Brittanny Dinkins. The Lady Eagles had wiped out a 43-37 deficit in the final quarter against Middle Tennessee in the semifinals, when Dinkins scored seven points in the final two minutes.