SUPERIOR, Wis. – The last time the University of Northwestern and University of Wisconsin-Superior Women's Basketball teams faced off in Superior, an instant classic ensued. Northwestern erased a 15-point deficit entering the fourth quarter and won in overtime to split the season series. The two teams, who shared the regular season conference crown, were back at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Saturday for a rubber match—and oh yeah, this matchup was also for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament. The Eagles led for most of the game, but surrendered a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter that vaulted the Yellowjackets to a 53-47 win and the conference title.
The first period was back-and-forth in the early goings.
Ella Falk (Jamestown, N.D./Jamestown) and
Jasmine Sondrol (Grand Forks, N.D./Red River), who were the heroes of Wednesday's semifinal win over Bethany Lutheran, each scored four early points, and a
Reese Sellers (Yuma, Ariz./Yuma Catholic) layup made it 10-6, UNW. After a Superior layup, Falk and
Grace Landvik (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) each scored two points to close out the quarter, which Northwestern led, 14-8.
UW-Superior was able to erase that six-point deficit in only 89 seconds to tie it up at 14. The Eagles punched right back, getting four points from Sondrol and two from Sellers in a 6-0 run that gave them a 20-14 advantage. A Falk jumper kept the lead at six with 5:47 left in the half, then both teams went ice cold from the field before
Lexi Hagen (Jordan, Minn./Jordan) drilled a deep three-pointer to extend UNW's lead to 26-18 at the 1:36 mark. UWS tacked on one more bucket to make the score 26-20 at halftime.
A Sondrol drive to the left pushed the lead back to eight on Northwestern's opening possession of the third quarter, but the Yellowjackets scored eight consecutive points to knot things up at 28. Falk scored inside on the ensuing trip to put the Eagles back in front, but Superior's effort on the offensive glass would get them the lead back three minutes later. It was again Falk who would make the shot to give UNW a 32-31 lead, and the lead would remain one point heading into the final quarter at 34-33.
Northwestern got a three from Hagen and a pull-up jump shot from Sellers to appear primed for another successful fourth quarter in Superior. After a Hagen layup (assisted by Sellers after an offensive rebound by the sophomore) and two
Lexi Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo./Vanguard) free throws, it appeared even more so, as UNW held a 43-37 edge with 5:51 to play. Nothing went the Eagles' way in that final 5:51, as they were only able to muster a Sondrol layup off a pick-and-roll from Garcia in the midst of a 16-2 run by the Yellowjackets. Garcia was able to score late, but the nail was already in the coffin as UW-Superior celebrated a 53-47 win and a conference championship. After leading by six at halftime, Northwestern was out-scored 33-21 in the second half.
Sondrol finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals, while Falk added 12 points, six boards and two steals. Hagen tallied eight points and seven rebounds, and Landvik snared a game-high 13 rebounds. Neither team shot the ball well, but Superior's Elise Besonen's 28 points out of her team's 53 were able to power the Yellowjackets to the win, despite UNW winning the turnover battle, 7-13. UWS out-rebounded the Eagles 53-40.
Despite the loss, Northwestern's season is far from finished. The Eagles have qualified for the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I National Championship in Point Lookout, Missouri. The tournament tips off March 19
th with matchups still to be determined. Stay tuned to unweagles.com for further updates.
