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POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTEN McLEE

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Newberg, Ore. – Senior Lashanda Luckey nearly recorded a double-double and classmate Christen McLee registered a career-high for points, but as the Concordia University Texas women's basketball team was dealt an 83-65 loss by 10th-ranked Lewis & Clark in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 2 at George Fox's Wheeler Center.

Lewis & Clark (25-3) scored on its first two possessions, but the Tornados quickly responded by getting a 3-pointer from Alex O'Neal and a McLee 15-foot jumper to take their first lead at 5-4 with 17:51 on the clock. The Pioneers, however, retook the lead and stayed ahead by consistently getting to the free throw even though the Tornados were able to get seven straight points from Luckey.

But the Tornados kept fighting, tying the score at 17-all on a Jessie Pittman trifecta that swooshed in from the left corner and taking the lead one possession later on a good jumper by Paige Parrish at the 8:37 mark. After one lead change and two more ties, the Pioneers broke loose and went on a 19-3 to end the frame by not allowing the Tornados to make a field goal for over six minutes. Domonique Liddell hit a jumper from the left block to make it 42-26 at the half.

Concordia stormed out of the locker room and started the second stanza on a roll, as McLee scored the first five points of the second half and the first six overall for the Tornados. A field goal from the right elbow by Alex O'Neal sliced the lead to 10 at 46-36.

The Tornados, who made the longest trip of the 64 teams participating in the NCAA Tournament to play a first round game, brought it down to 10 again on another successful Luckey drive to the hoop. But the Pioneer offense came alive and extended the lead to 18 at the midway point. A 3-pointer by Kristina Williams from the right arc gave her 30 points and her team a 58-40 lead, and five straight from Sara Villaneuva made it 63-40 with under nine minutes to play. The Tornados would come no closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

Luckey finished with 18 points and eight rebounds to lead Concordia in her final game as a collegian, while McLee went out on a high note by netting a career-best 16 points in her last appearance in a Tornado uniform. Termeka Canada added nine points and six boards.

Lewis & Clark, which will face either third-ranked George Fox or California Lutheran in the second round tomorrow, was led by Kristina Williams' 33-point performance. She shot 10-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-3 from long range, and made all 11 of her free throw attempts. Villaneuva contributed 18 points and four assists.

Concordia (23-5) completed its best season in school history at any level. The Tornados set school records for overall wins (23) and league wins (18) while also capturing their first American Southwest Conference Tournament title and West Division crown. The team also received votes in the national polls and became the first women's sport at the school to appear in an NCAA Tournament. The Tornados are slated to return 13 letterwinners, including five players who have garnered ASC postseason accolades in their careers, next season.