Judson 65, Northwestern College 58 -
BoxST. PAUL, MN. - Winning the Northwestern College Tournament Championship, Judson University (4-3) held off Northwestern College (1-2) in the final three minutes of the game for a 65-58 win. Judson has as large as a 14-point lead in the game over the NCAA Division III program.
Leading the way for Judson was freshman Kim Peek (Springdale, AR) with 15 points and six rebounds. She shot 50% from the floor (6-of-12) and made three three-pointers. Junior Kirstin Johns (Belvidere, IL) added 14 points followed by Aubrey Parsons (Sterling, IL) with 11. Katie Dewitt was the leading scorer for Northwestern with 17 points.
After Northwestern took an early 4-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game, Judson went on a 12-2 run in five minutes for a 14-6 advantage. Johns gave Judson the eight-point lead on a jumper with 13:30 left in the first half. Northwestern cut the lead to six, 14-8, on their next possession but Judson moved the lead back to 14, 26-12, with 6:14 on the board. With 4:33 remaining, Kristi Seimers (Bensenville, IL) put Judson up by 14, 29-15, with a layup. Northwestern did cut Judson's lead to nine, 32-23, at the half.
Judson kept the lead in double figures for most of the second half. With 17:48 to go, Parsons hit a three-pointer to keep Judson 14-points ahead, 37-23. Northwestern had whiddled Judson's lead down to seven before Peek nailed a three-pointer with 10:43 left in the game to put the score at 41-31. Judson still had their 10-point lead, 56-46, with 1:37 remaining but Northwestern came roaring back. In the final 1:37, Northwestern outscored Judson, 12-7 to make it 63-58. Northwestern had Judson's lead down to five, 61-56, with 23 seconds left in the game. Judson was then fouled but missed both free throws. Alicia Rovertoni (Columbia, IL) grabbed the offensive rebound and then Parsons was fouled with four seconds left in the game. She then hit both free throws for a 63-56 advantage. Northwestern added a bucket as time expired for to bring Judson's lead to five and end the game.
Judson shot just 34% overall and just 32% from three-point range. They did make 61% of their free throws, though, and then forced 18 turnovers with seven steals. They held Northwestern to just 34% shooting from the floor, 35% from beyond the arc, and 47% (8-of-17) from the stripe. Northwestern out rebounded Judson, 53 to 36.
Judson is now 4-3 on the season and will host St. Xavier University on Tuesday, November 25th, at 7:00 p.m.
