Rome, Ga. – With both North Georgia College & State University and Brewton-Parker College guaranteed a trip to Jackson, Tennessee, it was pride and bragging rights the two teams fought for in the finale of the Southern States Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament.

The Lady Saints (25-7) wore down the Lady Barons (32-3) and used a 27 point effort from freshman guard Megan Huffman (Woodstock, Ga.) to win 77-68 Saturday evening in Ford Gymnasium on the campus of Berry College.

Huffman was also named tournament MVP and selected to the All-Tournament Team along with fellow Lady Saints junior forward Jeanine Dorminey (Tifton, Ga.).

The Lady Barons controlled the pace of the game in the first half and had jumped out to a 14-6 lead 10 minutes into the game. The Lady Saints clawed back into the game on the back of Huffman and senior forward Brandi Owen (Cornelia, Ga.). Huffman scored eight points in the final five minutes of the half and Owen chipped in eight points herself. North Georgia took its first lead of the game with 1:56 left in the first off of a lay-up from sophomore forward Jenica Johnson (Lilburn, Ga.). The Lady Saints had a 30-23 lead in the closing seconds, but a field goal from junior guard Dannisha Winfrey (Statesboro, Ga.) with 11 seconds left cut the lead five heading into halftime.

North Georgia out-rebounded BPC 28-19 and shot better from the field, Lady Barons 27% and Lady Saints 36% for the first half. Winfrey led BPC in scoring in the half with nine points while junior forward Tamika Drinks (Mt. Vernon, Ga.) whipped the boards with eight rebounds.

In the second half, the Lady Saints continued to control the pace of the game and were able to wear down the Lady Barons. North Georgia had their largest lead of the night after Huffman knocked down a couple of free throws to make the score 60-47 with 5:36 left in the ball game. Junior guard Ashley Little (Lawrenceville, Ga.) knocked down a couple of three pointers with time winding down in the game, but BPC was not able to get any closer than five as North Georgia closed out the contest.

Winfrey led the Lady Barons with 18 points and five rebounds while Drinks scored 17 and Little added 14.

Following Huffman's 27, Dorminey had 15 points and 11 rebounds followed by Owen with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Joining Huffman and Dorminey on the All-Tournament team as BPC's Winfrey as well as Lee University's senior forward Stay Felchner (Scottsville, Ky.) and Reinhardt College's senior guard Amanda Clonts (Murphy, N.C.).

Both the Lady Saints and Lady Barons await the final rankings this Tuesday and their seeding in the NAIA National Tournament beginning on March 16.