Joyner has key plays, ECU women headed to NCAA tourney

By The Associated Press
East Carolina head coach Kim McNeill, center left, gives an on-air interview as the team celebrates with the trophy after their win against Houston in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the American Athletic Conference Tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Tony Gutierrez]

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Freshman Amiya Joyner converted the go-ahead three-point play with 1:30 to play and blocked a potential winning basket with 3.2 seconds left to give East Carolina a 46-44 win over Houston in the American Athletic Conference title game and the Pirates’ third NCAA Tournament berth. It was quite a struggle for two defensive minded teams. Houston  shot 30% despite missing all 12 3-point attempts while the Pirates shot 28%. East Carolina, picked by coaches to finish last in the AAC, got off to a miserable start, missing their first 10 shots and going 1 of 17 in the first quarter, although Houston only led 11-2. After the Pirates got back in the game with a 12-2 run and took a 28-27 lead with 3:16 in the third period, there were six ties and seven lead changes.

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