CHESTERTON, Ind. -- Riding the wave of momentum from a the low team second round of the tournament, the Indiana State women's golf team kept it going during Tuesday's final round as they finished fourth at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, hosted by Valparaiso in Northern Indiana. The event was held over the par-72, 6,084-yard layout of the Sand Creek Country Club.

Thilda Staubo recorded a career-best 54-hole tournament finish in what will be her final event as a Sycamore. In the lead or tied for the majority of the final two rounds, Staubo posted a final round of 75 -- a trek around the course that featured five birdies -- which followed scores of 73 and 73 on Monday for a total of 221 and a third place finish in the individual race. For her efforts, she was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Team and took home the extreme honor of being named the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Golfer Of The Year.

Staubo's tournament score of 221 is the best of her career, besting her mark of 222 set earlier this spring at the Kiawah Island Classic. Her third place finish at the MVC Championship is also her highest finish topping a tie for sixth place last year. In her four year career, Staubo was inside the Top 20 during all four appearances in the league championship. 

As a team, the Sycamores finished the final round with a score of 306 which followed rounds of 314 and 295 for a total of 915. The fourth place is the fourth best finish in the history of the program only trailing one third place showing in 2010 and a pair of second place finishes in 2014 and 2016. The three-round team score of 915 is the third best in program history at the MVC Championship and fourth-best overall in all tournaments. 

"The team gave themselves every chance to rally and get back into the championship hunt by playing smart during the final two rounds," head coach Greg Towne said. "We just simply dug ourselves too big of a hole after the first 18. It was an emotional finish for three great seniors and we are proud of the way they continued to fight through the whole tournament."

Southern Illinois was the team winner with rounds of 300, 299 and 306 for a total of 905 and will advance to the NCAA Regionals. Northern Iowa was second with a 912 while Bradley was third at 914. The Sycamores were just 10 shots behind the Salukis for the league championship and only three behind the Panthers for second place in a jam packed leader board. The Sycamores took down Drake who were fifth at 916 and Missouri State was sixth with a final score of 923. Evansville was seventh at 930 while Loyola was eighth at 935. Illinois State in ninth at 947 and host Valparaiso finished 10th with a score of 965.

On the individual leader board, Abby Cavaiani of Missouri State and Sydney Eaton tied for the league championship with a final score of 220 while Staubo was just one shot out with her 221. Cavaiani won the league's tournament title on the second hole of a playoff with Eaton.

Sierra Hargens tallied rounds of 77, 73 and 79 for a total of 229 and a tie for 12th place. She had a pair of birdies on the final day. Her total of 229 ties with her performance last year for her best ever at the MVC Championship and her tie for 12th place is her best showing in three years of playing in the league championship.

Kayla Ryan completed a breakout season with rounds of 82, 75 and a final round of 74 for a total of 231 which tied her for 15th place in the field. She owned a pair of birdies during the final 18 holes. Her 231 was a career-best for 54 holes and her tie for 15th place is her best showing in two appearances in the MVC Tournament. 

Sophie Benetti recorded rounds of 82 and 74 on Monday then came back with a 78 in the third round for a total of 234 and a tie for 25th place. On Tuesday, Benetti recorded a birdie on the par-4 No. 9 hole. Abigail Irwin enjoyed rounds of 84, 76 and 88 for a total of 248 and a tie for 44th place.