By Colin Altevogt
Contributing Writer
FORT WAYNE â??? Fort Wayne Northrop center Faith Sherrill hit a pair of free throws, making the game 2-0 in the opening minute. It would be the Bruinsâ?? only lead of the contest.
With the offense working a patient inside-out scheme, Fort Wayne Dwenger easily disposed of Northrop in the second semifinal game in the Summit Athletic Conference Tournament, 43-37.
Northrop had advanced by defeating tournament favorite Harding in double overtime, 71-69, while Dwenger had downed sixth-seeded Elmhurst, 61-39.
Dwenger forward Emily Mayers led the Saints with 13 points, nine of those coming in the first half. Mayers, who went five for nine from the free throw line, was dominant on the offensive post, receiving passes and laying the ball in with ease.
The Saints executed their game plan of limiting Sherrillâ??s touches. With coach Dave Scudder continuously instructing his players to keep the Northrop star out of the lane, Dwenger doubled, tripled, and in some cases even quadrupled down on Sherrill.
Despite the constant attention, Sherrill still put up 16 points, and kept the Bruins in the game whenever Dwenger threatened to run away with it. She grabbed rebounds like Charles Barkley and often kicked the ball out to point guard Kiera Gray when swallowed up in a sea of navy jerseys.
Gray, who dropped 27 in the double overtime upset of Harding, put up 15 with the majority of those coming at crucial times. The 5â??8â? junior scored eight points in the third quarter, including two crucial jumpers toward the end of the period when the Dwenger lead reached nine.
When Northrop cut the lead to three points, bench player Mallorie Schon nailed to shots, the first a step behind the arc and the second a long two, giving the Saints some breathing room.
Dwenger, though, could not close out the game from the line, going two for seven in the final two minutes of the game. The Saint lead was just four points after Katie Coonan missed a pair from the stripe.
Northrop, however, was unable to take advantage of its opponentâ??s misfortunes. The Bruins didnâ??t secure the rebound off the second miss and Leah Roth converted a lay-up off the board.
Down by six and needing a quick score, Gray threw up a three that missed everything and that was all she wrote. Dwenger advanced to the championship game by the score of 43-37.
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