Rockford, Ill. - The Northland Pioneer women's basketball team defeated Cedar Valley 50-49 in the NJCAA Division III women's basketball semifinal round Friday at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill. With the win, the Pioneers advance to the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball championship game, which will be held at 6 p.m. later today against tournament host Rock Valley or Region 13A winner Western Tech.

Northland took an 11-10 lead with a buzzer beater at the end of the first quarter of Friday's semifinal game. Cedar Valley won the second quarter with an 18-12 scoring edge to take a 28-23 lead into the locker room. Northland dominated the third quarter and took a 40-37 lead into the fourth quarter.

Both defenses tightened up in the fourth quarter as every possession became more valuable. The game was tied 43-43 with 6:30 left to play. Down to five players, after starting the game with just six players, Cedar Valley took a 46-43 lead at the six-minute mark. 

Northland scored on its next two possessions to take a 47-46 lead with just under 4 minutes left to play. From there, the teams traded scores, with Northland taking a 49-48 lead with just under three minutes left to play. Cedar Valley tied the game at the foul line around the two-minute mark.

Both teams came up empty on multiple possessions in the final two minutes. Northland turned the ball over with 26 seconds left and Cedar Valley moved the ball to mid-court following a timeout. The Suns got a shot off but failed to score and Carly Mekash grabbed the rebound and called timeout with 13.3 seconds left. 

The Pioneers also opted to take the ball at mid-court, and worked the ball inside to Janie Wunderlich who was fouled attempting what could have been the game-winner with just 4.3 seconds left to play. Wunderlich, who normally shoots close to 70 percent from the foul line, struggled at the line in the semfinal game. She sunk one of two free throws in her final trip to the line and it was enough to give the Pioneers a 50-49 lead. 

The Suns turned the ball over on the ensuing in-bound pass, giving the ball back to the Pioneers with a little over three seconds left to play. 

Northland defeated Western Tech 65-52 during a regular season meeting in Thief River Falls. Northland has not faced Rock Valley this season. Tip-off for the Rock Valley vs. Western Tech game was at 1 p.m.
 

(8) Cedar Valley at (4) Northland

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(8) Cedar Valley

PLAYER	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
STARTERS
1 - Katelynn Harbison	40:00	3-13	1-5	0-0	5	7	12	5	4	0	2	3	7
2 - Kenahdi Moore	25:07	1-6	0-0	2-4	2	6	8	1	1	0	4	5	4
3 - Kaiyla Payne	37:47	4-12	0-0	1-6	4	6	10	3	2	0	3	2	9
4 - Alana Rusk	38:01	6-16	4-10	1-2	3	1	4	3	1	0	3	1	17
11 - Jaidyn Johnson	39:06	3-15	0-3	2-2	2	8	10	2	1	0	6	3	8
RESERVES
15 - J'Kimbria Criss	19:59	2-5	0-0	0-0	1	3	4	1	1	2	2	4	4
TOTALS		19-67	5-18	6-14	19	33	52	15	10	2	20	18	49
		28.4%	27.8%	42.9%

(4) Northland

PLAYER	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
STARTERS
4 - Macy Skyberg	32:27	5-11	0-1	3-4	2	5	7	3	3	0	6	2	13
15 - Janie Wunderlich	40:00	3-14	3-11	3-8	2	7	9	4	2	0	5	3	12
21 - Emma Duden	32:06	2-5	1-2	1-4	2	6	8	0	0	1	4	3	6
23 - Bailey Greene	19:31	0-1	0-0	0-0	0	2	2	1	0	0	1	1	0
41 - Carly Mekash	40:00	6-15	0-1	2-4	3	4	7	1	3	1	6	3	14
RESERVES
3 - Emma Waling	12:47	0-3	0-0	0-0	0	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0
14 - Holly Steer	23:09	1-9	1-6	2-2	3	4	7	1	0	0	0	1	5
TOTALS		17-58	5-21	11-22	15	33	48	10	8	2	23	13	50
		29.3%	23.8%	50.0%