ROME, Ga. -- Katie Nelson had 20 points to lead the top-seeded Lee women's basketball team to a third consecutive Southern States Athletic Conference Championship with a 77-63 win over Berry at the Steven J. Cage Athletic and Recreation Center on Saturday. Both Berry (18-14) and Lee (28-5) advance to the NAIA National Championship Tournament at Oman Arena on March 18-24 in Jackson, Tenn.

Nelson had a game-high 20 points to lead five Lee players in double-digits, as the No. 6 Lady Flames shot 44.1% from the field. Brooke McKinnon also added 19 points, a game-high nine rebounds and four assists for the tournament champions.

The game was tied 27-27 at the half, before Lee's offense exploded in the second half, shooting 60% from the field and making 20-of-26 free throws. Nelson and McKinnon both scored 12 points after the intermission and Allison Rader added all 11 of her points in the second half with a 9-of-12 effort from the free-throw line. 

Kendall Davis converted a three-point play with 14:20 to play in the second half that tied the game at 36-36. However, from that point Lee went on a 25-10 run in seven minutes that was capped by a Nelson three-point play. Nelson earned a spot on the SSAC All-Tournament team, as she helped Lee out-score Berry 44-20 in the paint.

Free-throw shooting was an important factor in the game as the two squads combined for 53 fouls. Lee finished the game 22-of-30 at the stripe, while the Lady Vikings were 19-of-25 at the line.

The Lady Vikings stayed in the game thanks in large parts to the effort of All-Tournament performer Holly Compton. The sophomore guard scored all eight of her points in the first half, but continued to fill up the stat sheet with a game-high nine assist and also pulled in five rebounds. Compton led the tournament with an average of five assists per-game.

Tikedra Jones also had a big game for the Lady Vikings with a team-high 16 points. Kayla Carlisle had 13 points and LaKisha Bryant earned a spot on the All-Tournament with tough defense and 12 points to make her one of just two Berry players to score in double-figures in all three games of the tournament.

The Lady Flames also found success turning the Lady Vikings over late in the game, forcing the hosts into 22 turnovers. The Flame converted those giveaways into 19 points, which led to a 15-7 edge in fastbreak points.

Kayce Addison and Valeriya Musina both chipped in with 10 points for Lee. Musina was the top player for Lee in the tournament, scoring in double-digits in all three games. Musina was named tournament MVP and earned a spot on the all-tournament team. Two players from Lee (Nelson and Musina) and two players from Berry (Compton and Bryant) joined Tiffany Scales on the SSAC All-Tournament team.

It was the second consecutive meeting between Berry and Lee in the conference championship game. Last year Lee also downed Berry in the title game and both advanced to the NAIA Tournament. It is the third time in Norton's four-year tenure at Berry that he has taken the team to the NAIA National Tournament.

All Tournament

Tiffany Scales - SPSU

Nicole Frechette - Shorter

LaKisha Bryant - Berry

Holly Compton - Berry

Katie Nelson - Lee

Valeriya Musina - Lee - Tournament MVP