Top-seeded Angelo State had its hands full from start to finish Friday night, needing clutch free throws down the stretch to hold off No. 8 seed Texas Woman’s  in the Lone Star Conference Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals at Dr Pepper Arena.

      The Rambelles without stood a late rally by the Pioneers, to advance to Saturday’s semifinal round after the 75-71 victory. ASU (21-5) will face No. 5 seed Tarleton State Saturday at 2:30 p.m. A win would put ASU in the LSC Championship final game for the third straight year, including cutting down the nets in 2016.

      ASU got 56 points from three players, led by Marquita Daniels, who had 21 points playing all 40 minutes. She also had four steals, giving her the ASU single-season record with 97. Daniels will have a good chance to get over 100, either in Saturday’s semifinal game and/or the regional tournament next week. ASU entered the weekend ranked fourth for the eight-team tournament.

      Along with Daniels, De’Anira Moore posted 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Dezirae Hampton scored 17.

      The season ends for the Pioneers (11-15), who got 32 points and 11 rebounds from Whitney Apari. KJ Stastny had 11 points and five rebounds.

      Trailing by nine with 1:33 to play, the Pioneers were able to trim the lead to three with just 25 seconds after a Stastny 3-pointer. But Daniels hit two of ASU’s final three free throws to preserve the win.

LSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 1, 2018
SESSION ONE
Game 1: 12 p.m., 3) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. 6) Cameron, A&M-C 93-89 (OT)
 
Friday, March 2, 2018 at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
Game 2: 12:30 p.m., 2) West Texas A&M vs. 7) Midwestern State, WT 70-49
SESSION TWO
Game 3: 2:30 p.m., 4) Eastern New Mexico vs. 5) Tarleton State, TSU 83-61
Game 4: 6 p.m., 1) Angelo State vs. 8) Texas Woman’s, ASU 75-71
 
Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION FIVE
Game 9: 12 p.m., 3) Texas A&M-Commerce vs. 2) West Texas A&M
Game 10: 2:30 p.m., 5) Tarleton State vs. 1) Angelo State
 
Sunday, March 4, 2018 at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas
SESSION SEVEN
Game 13: 1:00 p.m., Women’s Championship: Winner G9 vs. Winner G10