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KEARNEY, Neb. - Barbara Nelson knew why her Wingate (N.C.) women’s basketball team was unable to stop Northern Kentucky University during a 78-65 loss to the Norse in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight Wednesday. It all centered on the game’s tempo, which NKU controlled most of the second half en route to the victory. That allowed the taller Norse to take advantage of their long arms and height, which Nelson said concerned her going into the national quarterfinals. “We did not want this to become a half-court game,” said Nelson, who completed her first season as Wingate’s head coach with a 26-8 record. “We wanted to eliminate Northern Kentucky’s length, play at a faster tempo and make it a full-court game. We did that periodically in the first half, and we were able to run out and get some easy baskets. “But in the second half, they were able to make it a half-court game, and their size was a tremendous factor.” NKU utilized its size and the shooting of Jessie Slack to coast into Thursday’s national semifinals against Alaska-Anchorage at 8 p.m. Slack netted a game-high 20 points as the Norse shot 51.7 percent from the field, including a 7-for-14 effort from 3-point range. Slack, a junior guard from Mt. Perry, Ohio, also dished out five assists, collected four steals and knocked down four 3-pointers for NKU, which improved to 26-8. She buried a trio of 3-pointers during a 16-6 run to begin the second half that extended a 33-27 lead into a 49-33 advantage. “When we move the ball and get our inside-outside attack going, we can be pretty good,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “We did that much better in the second half and it allowed us to build on the lead. Jessie had some good looks at the basket. She hit some big shots and that helped open it up. The momentum really shifted after she made those shots in the second half.” Slack finished 7-for-13 from the field with four rebounds and two blocked shots. “I just take whatever shot I can get, and very seldom do I pass up a shot,” Slack said. “I was able to get open in the second half for those 3-pointers, and we did a good job of passing.” Senior center Angela Healy added 16 points and eight rebounds for NKU. Healy, a graduate of Highlands High School, was also named NCAA Division II honorable mention All-American on Wednesday. Healy, who now has 1,238 career points, was 7-for-10 from the field. She also added four assists.
“We have 10 girls who don’t want this to end, and we have matured as a team,” Healy said. “It’s kind of rare to find everyone on a basketball team with the same heartbeat. We have come together at the right time.” Junior post player Cassie Brannen finished with 15 points and three blocked shots. Kendra Caldwell and Rachel Lantry each scored eight points off the bench for NKU. Caldwell was 4-for-6 from the field, while Lantry made a pair of 3-pointers in the first half for the Norse. “Kendra finished strong around the basket and did a great job for us,” Winstel said. “Rachel Lantry hit two very big 3-pointers for us in the first half. She was open and wanted the ball. "After having nine days between games, you are concerned how you come out as a team. I thought we came out a little flat, but our bench players did a great job of sparking us in the first half.” Senior point guard Nicole Chiodi added nine rebounds and three steals for NKU, which finished 11-for-11 at the free-throw line. Kate Edwards led Wingate (26-8) with 19 points, and Anna Atkinson added 16 points. The Bulldogs, however, made just 37.7 percent of their shots from the field and were 7-for-15 from the free-throw line. NKU collected eight blocks and altered several other Wingate shots. "We are very long and block a lot of shots," Winstel said. "I think that bothered Wingate, especially in the second half. We did a good job defensively, and Wingate is a very good team. They competed hard the entire game, and we are just happy to be among the final four teams still alive. You just want to survive and move on, and that's what we've been doing." NKU will meet Alaska-Anchorage - which posted a 71-65 overtime win over Franklin Pierce - in the national semifinals. The Norse have never met the Seawolves (30-4) in women's basketball. "I watched their game against Franklin Pierce and saw they really have some talented players, and they did a great job late in the game," Winstel said. "They beat Seattle Pacific to win their regional, so you know they are very good. I had a chance to watch some tape of them on Saturday, and they are a big, talented team."
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