The Red Raiders defeated Hastings 76-59 in the semifinals of the GPAC Postseason Women's Basketball Tournament featuring a pair of top-ranked teams. Northwestern, seeded second and ranked third in the NAIA, improves to 29-2 overall. Hastings, ranked fourth in the NAIA and seeded third, falls to 27-5.
The Broncos jumped out to their biggest lead early in the first half, 18-11, before Northwestern rallied to tie the game at 24 with nearly six minutes to play. Hastings scored the next four points and led 28-24 until NWC scored the next 12 points to take the lead for good, 36-28. The Red Raiders led by seven, 38-31, at intermission.
In the second half, Hastings twice cut the lead down to five, the last at 45-40 with 12 minutes left to play. Northwestern, however, went on a 13-3 run to take a 58-43 lead with seven minutes left to play and the Broncos never got closer than 12 the rest of the way.
Northwestern shot 49% for the game and limited Hastings to 32%, including 29% in the second half. Debbie Remmerde led four NWC players in double figures with 23 points. Miranda Boekhout tied a career high with 17 while Amy Larson (15) and Crystal Algood scored 15 and 11 points, respectively. Heather McKeon and Kim Faimon came off the bench to lead the Broncos with 13 and 10 points, respectively. Hastings out-rebounded the Red Raiders, 43-34, including 21 offensive rebounds. Mandy Carr led NWC with eight rebounds and Remmerde added seven. Boekhout and Carr dished out six and four assists. Northwestern committed just 17 turnovers against the Hastings pressure while the Red Raiders forced 21 HC turnovers.
Northwestern will now face top-seed and second ranked Morningside in the GPAC Championship game on Tuesday night at 7:30 in Sioux City. Morningside, by way of the regular season title, has clinched an automatic berth to the national tournament. Northwestern, by reaching the championship game, has clinched the second automatic berth into the 32-team national tournament field.
2007-08 media guide
