FRANKFORT, Ky. - The IU Southeast women's basketball team earned its second consecutive KIAC Tournament Championship on Saturday by defeating Brescia University, 72-66. The Grenadiers played tough defense in the second half to escape with the six point victory over No. 3 Brescia at the Frankfort Convention Center in Frankfort, Ky.

The IU Southeast women's basketball team improves its overall season record to 23-8. The Grenadiers, who earned the first seed in this year's tournament with a 12-1 regular-season record against KIAC opponents, extended their win streak to seven games with Saturday's victory.

With the win, IU Southeast earns an automatic bid to 19th Annual State Farm-NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship in Sioux City, Iowa from March 10-16 in the Tyson Events Center/Gateway Arena.

IU Southeast was led by junior Alden Krausse (Floyds Knobs, Ind.) who scored a career-high 27 points with seven rebounds and three blocked shots. KIAC Women's Basketball Player of the Year Whitney Duncan (Louisville, Ky.) added 12 points, four assists and three rebounds. Megan Murphy (Bloomington, Ind.) rounded out double-digit scorers for IU Southeast with 10 points, nine rebounds and three assists.

The Grenadiers shot 42-percent from field goal range and 33-percent from behind the 3-pt. arc. IU Southeast led over the visiting Bearcats of Brescia by three points at halftime, 36-33.

IU Southeast outscored Brescia 36-33 in the second half to earn the victory.

Check back to IUSAthletics.com or NAIA.org later this week for more information regarding the NAIA Women's National Basketball Tournament.