MIAMI, Fla. - After two tightly contested road games, it was only fitting that a three-game roadtrip to close out the regular season for the Western Kentucky University women's basketball team ended with another battle. WKU overcame 35.7 percent shooting to earn its 20th victory of the season with a 64-61 at Florida International Saturday afternoon.

 The win sends the Lady Topper into the 2010 Sun Belt Conference Tournament with a 20-9 record. WKU finished league play 14-4. It will open postseason play on Sunday (March 7) at 2:30 p.m. (CST) in the tournament quarterfinals as the #3 seed. FIU fell to 14-15 and 9-9 in league play, earning the seventh seed in the tournament.

 The Lady Toppers were limited to just 35.7 percent shooting in the opening half, trailing by as many as four in the opening five minutes of the game. Trailing 11-9 at the 13:35 mark after three straight points by Elisa Carey, the Lady Topper got three unanswered from Keisha Mosley to spark a 11-2 run as WKU opened up a 23-13 lead after a LaTeira Owens jumper at the 5:45 mark.

 WKU was unable to extend the lead, however, as the Golden Panthers chipped away at the lead, and regained a two-point lead when a Carey jumper put them in front 29-27 with 55 second on the clock. Dominique Duck was able to answer with her first points of the game down the stretch, sending the teams to the locker room tied at 29-29.

 The Golden Panthers were able to open up an early four-point lead in the second half, but again the Lady Toppers went on a run, scoring 14 of the next 16 to open up a 45-37 lead on a Duck free throw with 12:40 remaining. Just as in the first half, the advantage was short-lived as FIU again chipped away and tied the game at 50-50 after a Michelle Gonzalez jumper with just over six minutes to play.

 WKU's composure never wavered, however, as it was able to pull back out to a 58-54 lead with 3:30 remaining. The Golden Panthers got back within a pair after a Marquita Adley jumper, but Duck knocked down a free throw to make it a three-point lead with a minute remaining. Despite shooting just 57.6 percent at the free-throw line for the game (19-for-33), the Lady Toppers got five made charity shots from Kenzie Rich in the final 19 seconds. After a pair put WKU up 63-58 with eight seconds remaining, Rakia Rodgers knocked down a three with one second left to cut it to a two-point game. Rich was fouled with 0.9 seconds remaining, and hit one of two to seal the three-point win.

 Arnika Brown paced the Lady Toppers with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the year. Davis also finished in double figures with 14 points off the bench. Carey scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to pace the Golden Panthers.

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