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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A fast start and some sizzling shooting from the field helped Northern Kentucky University pick up a huge in-region victory Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament. Angela Healy scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead NKU to a 79-67 win over Missouri S&T in Weiser Gym. Healy, a senior center from Highlands High School, was 8-for-10 from the field and also blocked two shots as NKU (22-7) advanced to the GLVC Tournament championship game against Drury on Sunday at 2 p.m. The NKU/Drury winner will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Pairings for the 64-team field will be announced Sunday night, but NKU virtually assured itself of a spot in the NCAA Tournament with its win Saturday. Missouri S&T entered the game ranked No. 3 in the latest Great Lakes Region poll, and NKU was No. 8. Cassie Brannen added 17 points and three blocks against Missouri S&T, while Nicole Chiodi finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. “Angela Healy and Cassie Brannen were warriors inside, and that is a very good team we beat,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “They beat us by 24 points the last time we played them, but our kids did a great job of getting off to a strong start and then we held on for the win." Jessie Slack knocked down four 3-pointers and scored 16 points for NKU, while teammate Danyelle Echoles added 11 points. The Norse built a 21-point (38-17) lead in the first half, but Missouri S&T (22-6) used a 14-3 run to cut the NKU advantage to 41-31 at the break. The Lady Miners pulled to within 51-50 on a basket by Katie Bunge with 11:50 left in the game, but NKU sealed the victory with a 14-3 run to extend its lead to 65-53. Healy, a 6-foot-1 center who was named All-Great Lakes Region on Friday, keyed the spurt with six points. “Healy and Slack both made big shots when we pulled away,” Winstel said. “Jessie has been shooting the ball well, and Angela has played like an All-American the entire season. I know she is our All-American, and she provided us with that go-to player when Missouri S&T made that big run in the second half.” NKU shot 58.7 percent from the field and was 7-for-14 from 3-point range. The Norse held the Lady Miners to 36.8 percent shooting from the field and won despite committing 25 turnovers. Drury posted a 56-52 win over Indianapolis in the other semifinal game Saturday. NKU and Drury met once this season, and the Lady Panthers defeated the Norse, 55-52 Jan. 5 in Highland Heights, Ky. “Drury has an outstanding team, and they are very hard to beat on their home floor,” Winstel said. “Their fans are going to be very loud and enthusiastic, so we’re going to have to play our best game to have a chance. It's just fun to be back in the GLVC championship game.”
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