FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Lindsey Waters wasn't ready to leave the Mid-South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament after just one game.

The sophomore from Stearns, Ky., poured in a career-high 27 points to lead No. 4-seed Lindsey Wilson College past No. 5 seed University of Rio Grande 68-65 on Thursday at the Frankfort Civic Center.

Viktoria Krell added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Sierra Rambert tallied 12 points, six assists and five rebounds. Bethany Spillman was held without a point, but still gathered a game-high nine rebounds.

Leah Kendro paced Rio Grande with 21 points and five rebounds. Jenna Smith added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Redstorm.

With 19 seconds to play in the game, the Blue Raiders led by one (66-65) before Waters came through with a huge basket in the paint. Smith got free for an open look at the top of the key to tie the game but air balled the attempt.

The Blue Raiders started ice cold from the outside, but luckily Waters took it into her own hands to dominate the paint and put Lindsey Wilson on top early. Besides aggressive defense and rebounding, Waters knocked down 3-of-4 shots in the first ten minutes to lead the offense with 11 points in the opening half.

Rio Grande dodged trouble with the poor 3-point shooting by Lindsey Wilson. The Blue Raiders found their share of open looks, but couldn't get anything to fall.

The Redstorm took advantage of the stagnant performance and turned a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead (16-15) with nearly eight minutes left in the half.

Lindsey Wilson, however, began to heat up from behind the arc and got back-to-back threes from Rambert and Kasey Litzinger to push ahead 21-16. Add in a defensive stop followed by a strong layup by Krell and the Blue Raiders took their largest lead of the game so far of seven (23-16).

The Redstorm put together another run with hot shooting from behind the arc as well as both teams traded baskets over the last few minutes of the half. Rambert grabbed an offensive rebound and added a basket as time expired to give Lindsey Wilson a 34-30 lead at halftime.

Rio Grande shot out of the gates after the break and quickly took a one-point lead (35-30) after a 5-0 run over the first two minutes of the second half. The play of Waters kept the Blue Raiders close, however, as the Redstorm's largest lead was seven during their hot streak.

After attempting just two free throws in the first half, Lindsey Wilson made its way to the line 17 times in the second, hitting 10. The free points helped a Blue Raider team that was struggling to find any offense after the break.

Rio Grande shot 13 free throws the entire game, but still hit the same amount (11) as the Blue Raiders did with 19 attempts.

Second-chance points for Lindsey Wilson also played a part in the Blue Raiders claiming the win. Lindsey Wilson led the rebounding battle 36-28, including a dominant 12-3 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Blue Raiders finished the game shooting 42.2 percent from the field, while Rio Grande shot just higher at 45.1 percent. Lindsey Wilson hit just 20.0 percent of its 3-pointers (3-for-15) as the Redstorm hit 8-of-19 shots from behind the arc (42.1 percent).

Lindsey Wilson returns to action at 1 p.m. CT on Friday, March 5 against No. 1-seed Campbellsville (Ky.) University in the semifinals of the Mid-South Conference Tournament at the Frankfort Civic Center.

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Click here for MSC Tournament Page.

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