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KATY, Texas – Senior forward Erin McGarrachan scored a game-high 22 points, but Northwestern State's Janelle Perez went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line as the Lady Demons defeated HBU women's basketball, 58-50, in the Southland Conference championship game Sunday afternoon from the Merrell Center.

"I am very proud of the team's effort overall," said HBU head coach Donna Finnie. "We had great looks, but just couldn't seem to finish. We made them all week, but not today. Give credit to Northwestern State."

McGarrachan went 9-for-20 from the floor, 1-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 3-for-4 from the free throw line to lead HBU (15-18), who had its season-high four-game winning streak snapped. McGarrachan's 22 points were five shy of her career high. She pulled down 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Anna Strickland posted 11 points and a game-high 13 boards for her sixth double-double of the campaign. HBU shot 32 percent from the floor in the game.

Northwestern State (19-14) got a team-high 19 points off the bench from Tournament MVP, Beatrice Attura, while Janelle Perez and Tia Youngblood scored 12 and 10 points, respectively. Chelsea Rogers grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds. The Lady Demons shot 36 percent from the floor in the game.

HBU started out slow, missing its first nine shots, but only trailed by three before getting in a groove. The Huskies used a 17-8 run in a span of 12 minutes to take their largest lead of the half, 19-13, culminated by a McGarrachan jumper at the 5:33-mark.

HBU continued to lead, 23-17, with 3:42 remaining in the half, but Attura nailed a three-pointer at the top of the key and the Lady Demons used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 23-all.

McGarrachan led all players with eight points, while Strickland was the top rebounder in the half with seven. Strickland, Heidi Sihvola, and Rachel Arthur each scored four points. Attura led Northwestern State with seven points coming off the bench, followed by Youngblood with five. Rogers was the Lady Demons' top rebounder with five. Northwestern State shot 30 percent from the floor in the half compared to 28 percent for the Huskies.

Northwestern State started the second half hitting four of its first six shots and taking its largest lead of the game at 33-27 with 14:56 to go in regulation. Rogers hit a three-pointer and forced two HBU turnovers.

The Lady Demons were shooting 58 percent (7-for-12) from the floor in the first eight minutes of the half before HBU scored seven unanswered to cut the deficit to four, 40-36, with 8:33 to play. McGarrachan scored all seven points in the run.

Northwestern State used a 6-0 run to increase its lead to 10, 46-36. Down by eight with 90 seconds to go, Strickland forced a steal which resulted in a layup by Arthur as the Huskies trailed by six, 50-44, with 59 seconds remaining. The Huskies had to intentionally foul and Perez went a perfect 8-for-8 to seal the Lady Demons' second tournament title in as many seasons.

HBU ends its campaign going 15-18. The 15 wins were the most since the Huskies returned to NCAA Division I in 2007-08. The Huskies were also the first No. 8 seed to reach the SLC Tournament title game. Said McGarrachan, "People are starting to take notice of us now."

All-Tournament Team:
MVP: Beatrice Attura (NWST)
Tayler Jefferson (HBU)
Erin McGarrachan (HBU)
Janelle Perez (NWST)
Porsha Roberts (SFA)