The first part of the game started off well for Northwest. Kyla Roehrig opened the scoring with a putback followed by a pass from Abby Henry to Gentry Dietz inside to make it 4-0 less that one minute into the game. Washburn would tie it up at 4, but then Abby Henry got two more assists just four minutes into the game as she found Gabby Curtis and Shelly Martin open for 3-pointers and Northwest was up 10-4.
But the fast start turned nightmarish for Northwest as Washburn started running up and down the floor at will on Northwest, threatening to turn the game into a layup drill for them. Stevi Schultz, who did all she could for Washburn in getting 26 points, had seven points and Cassie Lomardino got four more during a 16-0 run that made it a 20-10 game at the 10:39 mark.
Northwest went to a 1-3-1 zone to take away the driving lanes for Washburn with some success as Abby Henry found Gabby Curtis inside and added a bucket and a pair of free throws of her own. Shelly Martin added a 3-point play off a Tara Roach steal as Northwest fought their way back to within 25-19 despite struggling to get a defensive board during that stretch. But then Dana Elliott hit a 3-pointer in transition and Laura Kinderknecht added a drive to give Washburn its biggest lead of the night at 30-19.
Northwest chipped away at the lead, getting a high-low from Abby Henry and Abby added a pullup from the high post. But it was a blown officiating call that really fired up Northwest's players. Tara Roach was playing defense in Washburn's backcourt during a ball scramble and the Washburn player carried the ball -- seen by everyone in the gym but the official, who instead called a foul on Tara Roach instead. But in a case of poetic justice, not only did Washburn miss the two ensuing free throws, Roach got the defensive board and hit two free throws on the other end to make it a five point game. All of a sudden, it looked like it might be Northwest's night despite the fact that they were still down five at 30-25. Abby Henry continued to carry the team, getting a pair of free throws off a drive and then lobbing it into Kyla Roehrig for her sixth assist of the half before Kinderknecht's 3-pointer made it 33-29 at the break.
To get over the hump, Northwest had to keep Washburn off the boards; they were killing them on the boards in the first half. They needed to do a better job of drawing contact as they only had seven trips to the line. And they needed to get Gabby Curtis and Kyla Roehrig scoring; they only had five and four points respectively. They succeeded in all three areas.
Gentry Dietz, who had been battling foul trouble for Northwest, shot the Bearcats into the lead as Abby Henry found her open in the high post. She then converted a steal into a free throw. Stevi Schultz went coast to coast for a 3-point play to put Washburn back up 4, but Tara Roach hit from the top of the key, Shelly Martin found Dietz open on the left wing, and Dietz scored from inside. Abby Henry then scored off a steal; Dietz picked up her fourth foul but then Gabby Curtis swiped the ball from the post and got it to Abby Henry, who scored to make it 42-36 with 15:30 left.
But aided by another blown call by the official, who called Tara Roach for a three shot foul even though she got all ball, Washburn went back in front 43-42 with 13:32 left. Kyla Roehrig kicked out to Ashley Thayer for a 3-pointer and Abby Henry got a drive and the ball rolled in and she converted the 3-point play to make it 48-45. But Washburn got their second big run of the night with Dietz on the bench with foul trouble as Raychel Boling got going for Washburn to put them up 52-48.
With Dietz on the bench with four fouls, Northwest had to find a way to get points without her and they did as Abby Henry kicked it out to Curtis for a 3-pointer to stop the run with 9:30 left and make it 52-51. Curtis then scored off a drive to tie it at 53 and then threw a long outlet to Shelly Martin following a stop. Martin, more known for her shooting than her driving ability, went to the rack and converted the 3-point play to put Northwest back in front 56-55 with 7:02 left.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Schultz kept Washburn in it, but Abby Henry hit a pair of free throws with 4:58 left to put Northwest in front for good at 63-61. For the next two possessions, neither team could get anything going but Kyla Roehrig blocked a shot to give Abby Henry a good look in transition. Abby missed the ensuing layup but Roehrig, running the floor as well as she had all year, was there to clean up. Roehrig added another putback and a free throw to put Northwest up 68-61 with 2:20 left and Megan Lassley missed a deep 3-pointer for Washburn that went out of bounds. The officials went into a long huddle and gave the ball back to Northwest. Northwest ran down the clock and had trouble getting a shot off. But Abby Henry got the ball to Gabby Curtis, who dribbled backwards with a defender chasing her. With the shot clock winding down and a hand in her face, Curtis nailed the 3-pointer for the dagger and Washburn threw in the towel after missing a couple of 3-point attempts.
No comments:
Post a Comment