WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The University of Northwestern women's basketball team competed in the semi-final round of the NCCAA National Championship Tournament Thursday afternoon against Concordia University (Mich.). The Eagles came away with the victory, but not before a closely matched game that went into overtime. UNW clinched the 75-69 point win to earn their way to the Championship game on Saturday afternoon against Alice Lloyd.

Northwestern moves to 17-5 on the season, their second best all-time record in program history (77.27 winning percentage). This was the first time these two teams met in program history and the third time the Eagles will have a chance to win the NCCAA National Championship.

The last time UNW was in the NCCAA Championship game was consecutive years in 1984 and 1985. Anna Goodrich (1984), Dena Sorenson (1984) and Sherri Kremer (1985) all were part of the NCCAA All-Americans during those championship runs. This 2021 tournament appearance is the team's eighth time being part of the NCCAA Dl National Tournament (1984, 1985, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2016, 2017 and 2021).

The semi-final game began with Concordia winning the tip. The Eagles scored the first points of the game off of a bucket by Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy), assisted by Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland). As UNW began to take the lead, Concordia went on a five-point run to come within one. With 1:50 remaining in the first, the Cardinals took the lead, ending the quarter up three, 21-18. Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) finished first quarter play carrying the team with 10 points.

Defensive efforts increased for both teams in quarter two as a combined 21 points were scored (11 for Concordia and 10 for Northwestern). The Cardinals increased their lead to as many as eight before the Eagles cut it in half to finish the half down 32-28.

Halftime did good things for Northwestern as they came out on fire outscoring Concordia 23-15 in the third. Early on the Cardinals kept their lead before the Eagles went on a seven-point run to take the lead 42-37 with three minutes left in the third. UNW went in to the last 10 minutes of the game up by four, 51-47 as Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) scored a bucket with time running out.

Quarter four brought toughness from both sides. The Cardinals outscored the Eagles 12-8 and fought back down five with twenty-five seconds left in regulation. With under five seconds left, Concordia scored a bucket to tie things up at 59.

Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland) scored the first bucket of the overtime for Northwestern and they did not look back. UNW went on a six point run with a few minutes remaining with a few three pointers by Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) and free throws from Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley). Courtney Schmidt (Spring Valley, Minn./Kingsland) and Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) finished out the game for the Eagles with free throws after fouls by Concordia. With time running out Northwestern clinched the win, 75-69.

Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) finished with her 10^th double-double of the season scoring 24 points and securing 13 rebounds. Brooklyn DeKam (Edgerton, Minn./Southwest MN Christian) scored a solid 25 points for the Eagles with eight rebounds. Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) added 16 more points for Northwestern.

Kelsea Lund (Madison, Minn./La qui Parle Valley) played all 45 minutes of regulation, while Megan Roberts (Greeley, Colo./Dayspring Christian Academy) came out for a mere one minute. UNW shot 40 percent from the field, while taking eight steals from the Cardinals.

Northwestern will compete on Saturday in the Championship game beginning at 2 pm EST in Winona Lake, Indiana.

For all things UNW women's basketball fans can visit www.unweagles.com or follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @unwwbb.