|
KEARNEY, Neb.-Trailing by 10 early in the second half, Northern Kentucky slowly chipped away at the gap, took the lead for good on a pair of Cassie Brannen free throws and made 7-of-10 from the line in the final 38.7 seconds en route to a 63-58 victory over South Dakota in the 2008 NCAA, Division II Women's Basketball Championship final game Saturday, March 29.
Brannen's free throws pushed Northern Kentucky ahead 54-52 with 2:08 left. Brannen fouled out less than a minute later but when Amber Hegge split a pair of free tosses, Northern still led 54-53.
An Angela Healy layup with 51 seconds remaining pushed the Norse up 56-53. After South Dakota missed a three-point to tie, Northern Kentucky snared the rebound and the fouling began. The Norse converted seven free throws while South Dakota could hit only once the rest of the way.
Brannen led Northern Kentucky with 18 points. Healy added 14 points and 13 rebounds. Danyelle Echoles scored 12 and Jessie Slack 11.
Jeana Hoffman poured in 19 to pace South Dakota. No other Coyote hit double figures. South Dakota hit only 19-of-59 from the field (32 percent), including 7-of-30 three-pointers (23 percent).
The championship was the second this decade for Northern Kentucky. Coach Nancy Winstel's Norse claimed the 2000 crown. Northern Kentucky reached the championship game but lost to South Dakota State exactly five years ago on March 29, 2003.
Northern Kentucky, which was unranked in the final regular season poll, improved to 28-8.
South Dakota ended 33-2. The championship loss ended a 31-game winning streak for the Coyotes. South Dakota's only previous loss was to Adams State November 23 in Colorado Springs. | 
