BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Western Kentucky redshirt seniors Micah Jones and Kendall Noble were the first two players to embrace in celebration as the buzzer sounded on the Lady Toppers’ Conference USA tournament championship Saturday afternoon.

The teammates, roommates and best friends have been through personal highs and lows in five years with WKU and helped the program win three conference championships during that time.

They went out on top in their last shot at a championship.

“I think it’s only right,” Noble said. “We just put so much time and effort into this program and to go out on top, it just means the world to me.”

Noble scored 15 points and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player as the Lady Toppers defeated Southern Mississippi 67-56 on Saturday at Legacy Arena.

Jones added five points, five assists and four rebounds. The duo can add another stamp on the program if they win a game in the NCAA Tournament next week.

WKU is 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament in five years with Michelle Clark-Heard at the helm while coaching Jones and Noble.

“We’ve been there twice since I’ve been here and we haven’t won a game yet,” Jones said. “That’s our other goal is to advance in the NCAA. I’m confident and we’re confident through these past couple of games and we’ll keep it rolling in the NCAA.”

Jones and Noble each experienced life on the bench for one season with knee injuries. Noble redshirted her freshman season and Jones went out for the year last year as a true senior. The 5-foot-6 Greensburg native bounced back to resume her point guard role for one final run at a C-USA title.

Jones eventually joined Noble in WKU’s 1,000-point club and entered Saturday’s championship game ranked No. 1 in the country with a 3.74 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Noble averaged 16 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists in WKU’s three games through the C-USA Tournament.

Bopp goes off again

Sidnee Bopp couldn’t miss in the C-USA Tournament. She emerged out of nowhere as WKU’s top 3-point threat on the team’s way to another conference championship against Southern Miss.

She made her first four 3-point attempts in the first half and missed her last shot to finish with 12 points. She averaged 13.3 points over the three games and was named to the All-Tournament team.

“It was overwhelming that we won, it’s also overwhelming that I was able to come out and play like that,” Bopp said. “I knew I always had it in me. Kendall and Micah and coach Heard always pushed me to get it out. I always did it to them in practice.”

The sophomore Marmaduke, Ark., native has hit 19 3-point attempts in her last five games combined. She made 12 shots from behind the arc in the tournament, tying her for third in C-USA Tournament history.

She scored a season-high 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting from 3-point range in WKU’s semifinal win over Louisiana Tech.

“I think she spent the night here and I just didn’t know about it,” Heard quipped after the game. “She was in here shooting all along. … Anytime you can see a player, especially one that you hand-picked – and I did with Sid – it’s a pretty special moment to see how she’s risen. Without Sidnee Bopp, we’re not winning the championship. So, it says a lot and it’ll be a memory we always have and I’m really happy for it.”

NOTES

Michelle Clark-Heard is now 130-28 as WKU’s head coach and 15-6 in the postseason. … WKU is now 53-8 against Conference USA opponents. … WKU leads the all-time series against Southern Miss 4-2, including four straight. … WKU will make its 19th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. … WKU is the first team in C-USA Tournament history to win each of its tournament games by double digits. … WKU is 6-1 in the C-USA Tournament and 65-23 all-time in conference tournaments. … WKU tied a C-USA record for fewest turnovers in a championship game with six (Cincinnati, 2006).{&end}