Special to The Post

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team and Michigan Tech were destined to play it close Friday night in the Norse's 60-59 win against the Huskies in the semifinals of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament in Regents Hall.

And if it is the Norse's destiny to play for the Division II championship this season, NKU's opponents are going to have to figure out a way to reverse the fate of destiny's darling, Norse sophomore forward Michelle Cottrell.

Cottrell, who scored the game-winning basket on a stick-back at the buzzer to beat Michigan Tech last year in the regional final, ousted Michigan Tech again with another game-winning stick-back with six seconds to play.

Cottrell, the Great Lakes Valley Conference Co-player of the Year, finished with a season-high 29 points with 15 rebounds and two steals.

NKU, 28-2 and winner of 20 straight games en route to finishing No. 2 in the final Division II poll, plays Northern Michigan (25-5) tonight at 7:45 for the regional championship in Regents Hall. The winner advances to the Elite Eight.

In a game that featured 17 lead changes and six ties, Michigan Tech took its last lead, 59-58, when junior Allison Baily hit a short bank shot with 2:32 to play.

There wouldn't be another basket until Cottrell's game-winner, though a converted Baily free throw with 37 seconds left would have tied the score.

But Baily, who led the Huskies with 24 points, missed the front end of a one-and-one and NKU freshman guard Bridget Flanagan grabbed the rebound. The Norse then headed down court looking to set up a go-ahead shot.

That crucial shot would first present itself to Flanagan, who missed a six-foot jumper from the left block. But there to grab the rebound was NKU's ever-present Cottrell, who pump-faked her defender then banked a short jumper off the glass.

''That's my job, to get rebounds,'' said Cottrell, who led the GLVC with 9.1 rebounds per game this season. ''After that, it was a pretty easy shot.''

When Cottrell's shot slid through, Michigan Tech called a timeout with five seconds left to set up one final play.

The inbounds pass from the half-court stripe went six feet into the Huskies' Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year, senior forward Clara Goggins.

Goggins was able to lose her initial defender, NKU junior forward Jessica Jenson, off a screen, but junior guard Heather Livingstone (10 points) picked her up and tried to draw a foul by falling down after minimal contact.

With three seconds still remaining on the clock, Goggins appeared flustered by the action in front of her. She stopped and hoisted a 30-foot jumper from the left wing that bounced off the far side of the rim, spilling the NKU bench onto the court in wild celebration.

"We tried to get whoever was going to take the ball to get it going away from the basket, and we just wanted to get a hand in her face,'' NKU coach Nancy Winstel said. ''I didn't think they would have time to throw it inside, so they were going to have to take some dribbles.

''And we really thought (Goggins) would be the one. She got a pretty good look, but it was an awfully long shot, and she shot pretty early. I thought maybe she would try to get further down. Heather fell to try to get the call. That maybe made (Goggins) think she had to hurry.

When you got the ball late and your down one, you really don't have time to look up at the clock.''

Goggins' shot was needed because of Cottrell's heroics.

''We count on Michelle at the end of the game,'' said junior guard Michelle Tuchfarber, who scored nine points. ''I don't think anyone on our team doesn't want to give the ball to her. Tonight, she just got it herself.''