Lady Blues fall to NWMSU in MIAA semis

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Northwest Missouri State started the second half with a 13-1 run, and held defending champion Washburn to 23.1 percent shooting from the field in the last 20 minutes as the Bearcats advanced to the Sonic/MIAA Women's Basketball Tournament championship game with a 76-68 decision over the Lady Blues Saturday afternoon (March 6) at Municipal Auditorium.

The lead changed hands 10 times and there were seven ties in the first half, the last coming as time expired on a layup by Washburn's Juwanna Rivers -- who scored 17 of her 20 points in the opening stanza.

Rivers couldn't miss in the first half, making 7-of-9 shots from the floor, including 3-of-5 at the three-point arc. But as hot as she was in the first half, Rivers and the Lady Blues couldn't maintain the pace.

The Bearcats held Washburn to a single Montoya Whitfield free throw over the first 6:39 of the second half, while Ashely Poptanycz (5) and Laura Friederich (4) combined for nine of Northwest's 13 points during that period in taking a 54-42 lead.

Washburn mounted a comeback and cut the gap to one with 7:31 to go, 56-55. Five points from Brooke Ubelaker and four foul shots by Carla Sintra provided the bulk of the Lady Blues' output in their 13-2 outburst.

Sarah Vollertsen would keep the Bearcats in front by scoring 10 of Northwest's next 11 points as the lead expanded back to nine, 66-57, with 4:20 left. Washburn was as close as four in the final three minutes, but could get no closer.

Seniors led the way for Northwest. Vollertsen finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds (all defensive), while Brooke Hogue scored 18 and Jane Chalmers just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine assists.

Rivers was 1-of-7 in the second half to finish 8-of-16 from the floor with her 20 points. Ubeleaker had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Lora Westling added 11 points.

Northwest plays in its first MIAA postseason championship game since the first women's tournament in 1983 on Sunday (March 7), when they face Emporia State at 1 p.m.