KINGSPORT, Tenn. – The Bluefield College women's basketball team came into the AAC Tournament looking to be a Cinderella as the No. 5 seed. However, another team wearing the glass slipper defeated the Rams, No. 9 seed Montreat, and the Cavaliers by virtue of their 86-72 win Friday evening, will now play in the tournament championship game.

Bluefield came out like gangbusters and built a 24-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, the Rams' fortunes changed and in the second period it was Montreat with the hot hand, out-scoring Bluefield 27-8 to take a 39-32 halftime lead. Bluefield rallied in the second half, getting as close as four on several occasions, but in the end it was Montreat, who Bluefield defeated twice during the regular season, who came out on top.

Shelby Key led the Rams with 21 points while Maryah Mazyck finished with 16. Courtney Kendrick collected a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Whitney Smith came off the bench to tally 12 points.

Niroshka Perez led Montreat and all scorers with 27 points. Darah DeWalt added 26 with seven rebounds and Hannah Calloway dropped in 13. Shannon Jackson had a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Montreat will play either Tennessee Wesleyan or Bryan for the AAC Tournament Championship, Saturday at 4 p.m. Bluefield (19-11) will await pairings for the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) tournament.