DOTHAN, Ala. -- Four years ago, Chancellor Dugan wondered if
her Florida Atlantic players were as close as they would ever get
to the NCAA women's tournament.
The Owls lost by one point to Georgia State in the final of the
2002 Atlantic Sun Conference tournament and watched their opponent
celebrate.
On Saturday, Shontavia Williams scored 26 points to lead Florida
Atlantic to a 74-63 victory over Gardner-Webb in the Atlantic Sun
tournament championship game.
The win gave the Owls (20-10) their first trip to the NCAA
tournament.
"It's been a long time coming," Dugan said. "A very long
time."
Williams made four 3-pointers and had eight rebounds, several of
which led to second-chance points.
"At first, my game was just drive, drive, drive," said
Williams, a senior. "I found out it's a lot easier when you can do
both."
Williams scored nine consecutive points during a 4-minute
stretch early in the second half to help the Owls build their
largest lead of the game at 51-36.
Gardner-Webb (14-16) made a late run behind Shameka Smith, who
finished with 19 points, but the Bulldogs would get no closer than
six points at 59-53 with 5:47 left on a 3-point play by Smith.
Bulldogs coach Rick Reeves used a football analogy to sum up his
team's defeat.
"We like the West Coast offense," said Reeves, whose
fourth-seeded Bulldogs upset top-seeded Belmont on Friday night to
advance to the title game. "We like to throw it around. Today,
they made us play three yards and a cloud of dust."
The second-seeded Owls built as much as a 10-point lead in the
first half.
Amanda Bulin added 12 points and Missy Glaser 11 for the Owls.
Brittany Harmon had 13 for the Bulldogs.