BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (3/8/03)-- Western Kentucky connected on nine 3-point shots to power their way past the North Texas women's basketball team in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference tournament 65-53 at E.A. Diddle Arena. Western Kentucky advances to the semifinals while the Lady Eagles end their season 12-16. 

The Lady Toppers built an 11-point lead to open the game at 21-10 with 11:50 in the first half. The Lady Eagles responded by holding Western Kentucky scoreless over the next seven minutes which ignited a 14-0 run and saw the Lady Eagles take 24-21 lead with 4:08 in the half. Vilma Grismanauskaite dominated the inside game and scored 13 first half points on her way to a career-high 24 for the game as North Texas extended their lead to 32-27 at the half.

The Lady Toppers opened the second half with a 12-4 run to retake the lead at 39-36 behind the shooting of Leslie Logsdon and Kristina Covington. The Lady Eagles got to within one-point at 45-44 with 9:30 left in the game, but the Lady Toppers responded with an 11-2 run to pull away from North Texas for good. 

Freshman Jamie Armstrong scored 12 points and Emily Britt came off the bench to add 10 points. Covington and Logsdon combined for the nine 3-point baskets by the Lady Toppers and both ended the game in double figures.