Lutheran defeats Cameron in Class 3 girls

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Hannah Leppien scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures, helping Lutheran (St. Peters) defeat Cameron 80-68 Saturday in the Class 3 Missouri Girls Championship.

After Cameron's Ashli Lykins scored the first basket of the game, the Cougars (28-4) responded with eight points and never trailed again en route to their first state championship.

Lykins finished with 26 points, and Melia Richardson added 24 for Cameron (20-12), which made its first state title appearance.

The game featured a start-and-stop pace thanks to a combined 76 free throws and 50 fouls between the teams. Lutheran shot 32 of 44 attempts from the line, breaking the Class 3 playoff record for made free throws.

Cameron finished 19-of-32 in free throws after making four of 11 attempts in the first half.