By: Scott DCamp, Northland Communications
Rochester, Minn., March 14 -
A last second three-point by freshman
Tiyana Schwinghammer lifted fifth-seeded Northland to a 54-53 win over fourth-seeded Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Thursday evening at the Rochester Regional Sports Center.
Schwinghammer's heroics came at the end of a defensive battle with few easy buckets for either team. The Pioneers trailed 16-11 with just over two minutes remaining in the opening quarter, but they finished the quarter on a 7-0 run. The Pioneers led by as many as six points in the second quarter, but they scored just two points in the final six minutes of the half and went into the locker room with a 26-26 tie.
The Pioneers offensive struggles continued into the third quarter, as the Golden Rams went on a 14-2 run to go in front 40-28. The Pioneers did not panic, however, and they finished the quarter on a 9-2 run to cut the deficit to five points at 42-37.
The Golden Rams led by as many as seven in the fourth, but the Pioneers kept battling back. A Schwinghammer jumper made it 50-45 with 3:34 left. A
Josie Iverson bucket with 2:50 remaining made it a three-point game. Following a couple of empty possessions by both teams, the Golden Rams went up 51-47 when Makayla Holtan made one of two free throws.
A three pointer by Schwinghammer with 1:36 remaining got the Pioneers to within one. The Pioneers tied the game on the ensuing possession when Iverson connected on one of two free throws.
With the game tied 51-51, the Pioneers got a big rebound by Schwinghammer off a missed shot by Anoka-Ramsey's Anjae Curry with 22 seconds remaining. The Pioneers planned to hold the ball for one final shot, but a traveling call on Iverson gave the ball back to the Golden Rams with eight seconds remaining.
On the ensuing possession, Northland sophomore
Riley Mooney was called for a questionable blocking foul that put Holten on the foul line with 2.3 seconds left in regulation. Holten sunk both free throws.
Following a timeout, the Pioneers advanced the ball to mid-court. On the inbound, Iverson lobbed the ball deep over the heads of all Anoka-Ramsey defenders to Schwinghammer. Schwinghammer caught the pass in stride and hit a routine layup to tie the game. She also drew a foul on Anoka-Ramsey's Bella Kanz on the play. After a short video review, the call stood, giving Schwinghammer one free throw for the win. Schwinghammer sunk the free throw, putting the Pioneers up by one with 1.3 seconds remaining.
The Golden Rams had one more shot at the win, but Holten's half-court shot hit the rim and fell harmlessly to the floor.
(5) Northland vs. (4) Anoka-Ramsey
March 14, 2024
(24-5)
54
(22-7)
53
Box Score
(4) Anoka-Ramsey
| PLAYER |
MIN |
FGM-A |
3PM-A |
FTM-A |
OREB |
DREB |
REB |
AST |
STL |
BLK |
TO |
PF |
PTS |
| STARTERS |
|
| 3 - Alani Pettis |
24 |
2-10 |
2-6 |
2-5 |
0 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
| 4 - Makayla Holten |
35 |
7-12 |
1-2 |
5-8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
20 |
| 10 - Lynae Walker |
30 |
3-8 |
1-4 |
0-0 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
7 |
| 12 - Jordan McMahon |
35 |
2-6 |
0-0 |
3-6 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
7 |
| 35 - Bella Kanz |
39 |
3-7 |
0-0 |
5-5 |
3 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
11 |
| RESERVES |
|
| 24 - Delana Washburn |
28 |
0-5 |
0-4 |
0-0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
| 30 - Anajae Curry |
6 |
0-2 |
0-2 |
0-0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
| TM - Team |
|
|
|
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
0 |
|
| TOTALS |
|
17-50 |
4-18 |
15-24 |
7 |
29 |
36 |
10 |
10 |
2 |
22 |
23 |
53 |
|
|
34.0% |
22.2% |
62.5% |
|
Game Information
| Date/Time: |
March 14, 2024 - 4:00 PM |
| Location: |
RCTC Fieldhouse, Rochester, MN |
| Technical fouls: |
(5) Northland-None ; (4) Anoka-Ramsey-None . |
