The season came to a close for the Angelo State women's basketball team (23-9) on Friday afternoon with a 69-44 loss to No. 24-ranked Washburn in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament, played at the First United Center in Canyon.

This marked the second consecutive year and third time in the last four years that ASU's season has come to a close with a loss to Washburn. The 'Belles were handed a 74-54 loss to Washburn in the first round of last year's regional tournament and a 76-67 in the second round of the 2006 event. ASU slipped to 2-9 all-time in national tournament play after a third straight first-round exit.

The 'Belles shot just 25 percent from the field in the first half, hitting 6-of-24 shots as a team over the first 20 mintues. In comparison, Washburn connected on 12-of-27 attempts (44.4%) in the first period to grab a 33-16 lead at halftime. The Lady Blues out-rebounded the 'Belles, 24-10, before the break.

Locker room adjustments by Angelo State showed immediate effect as the 'Belles scored the first four points of the second half and outscored the Lady Blues, 10-4, over the first four minutes of the half. ASU would trim the deficit down to 11 points, 37-26, with 16:07 left in the contest on a jumper by senior by Kandra Lakey, but the Lady Blues would answer with a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to take back control of the game.

Freshman guard Camille Perkins led the 'Belles in scoring with a game-high 17 points on 6-of-16 shooting while adding four rebounds. Perkins recorded just the seventh 500-point season in program history, ending the year with a freshman record 506 points, the sixth highest single-season total by an ASU player.

Senior forward Kandra Lakey was the only other ASU player to reach double digits in the contest, ending the game with 10 points with a game-best three assists along with two rebounds. A three-time All-LSC South pick, Lakey ended her distinguished tenure at Angelo State as one of just six players in ASU history to record over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career. She closed out her four years with the 'Belles with 1,230 points and 655 rebounds, seventh on both career lists for ASU.

The 'Belles shot 32.1 percent for the game, improving on their first half performance by hitting 11-of-29 shots (37.9%) in the second half. ASU committed a season-low 10 turnovers, but was out-rebounded, 48-22, by the Lady Blues for the game. Sophomore Tiffany Hardwell led the 'Belles with five rebounds and two steals.

Washburn (24-6) got 15 points from Corkey Stiger, leading three Lady Blues in double figures. Amanda Holmes had 14 points and Janice Bright had 12 points. WU shot 44.6 percent (25-of-56) for the game and hit 14-of-18 free throws (77.8%) as a team.