Smith buzzer beater lifts No. 5 Lady T-Birds to Region V finals

BROWNWOOD, Texas — A putback by Nycolle Smith as the final buzzer sounded gave fifth-ranked New Mexico Junior College a 56-54 victory over Midland College on Friday in the Region V Tournament semifinals at Brownwood Coliseum.

The Lady Thunderbirds face Western Texas 2 p.m. (CST) Saturday in the Region V championship with a chance to secure their third NJCAA National Tournament berth in four years. It can be watched live on www.gmblive.tv.

The game was tied 54-54 with 8.6 seconds left and NMJC (28-3) inbounding the ball from under Midland's basket. The ball made its way to Smith outside the 3-point arc before she passed it to Camille Mills who swung it to Kelsey Criner on the wing. Criner, who had hit two key 3-pointers in the previous minute, drove to the basket and took a shot.

The ball hit off the backboard, went to the other side without hitting the rim right to an open Smith who grabbed it and put it back in just before the final horn sounded to give the Lady T-Birds the 56-54 victory.

NMJC held a 45-41 advantage with 6:06 left when Midland (21-11) went on a 7-0 run capped by a Mary Savoy bucket with 3:01 left to make it 48-45.

Criner broke the drought when she converted a three-point play with 2:49 left to make it 48-48.

A pair of Savoy free throws again gave Midland the lead when Criner drained a deep 3-pointer from the wing with 1:09 left to give NMJC a 51-50 lead.

Walnatia Wright sank a pair of free throws with 43.8 remaining to give Midland the lead again 52-51 before Criner banked in a 3-pointer from the wing with 24.2 left to give NMJC a 54-52 advantage.

That's when Garate hit two free throws before Smith's buzzer beater to send NMJC to the finals.

Criner led NMJC with 17 points while Angelica de Paulo had 12 points and six rebounds and Viktoriia Kotilevskaia had 10 points and was 2-for-5 from 3-point range.

Savoy led Midland with 11 points.