Sophomore Niki Kruger hit three bombs to send the Lady 'Cats into intermission with a three-point lead. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

CONCORDIA -- Northwest of Hughesville scored the game's last eight points Monday to pull out a 49-43 decision over the Slater girls in the Class 2, District 8 Basketball Tournament at Concordia.

The Lady Wildcats went into the final two minutes hanging on to a slim lead, but came up empty on its final five possessions -- two of them ending in turnovers.

Junior Whitney Brown tied the game with a short jumper and the Lady Mustangs converted six straight free throws, two by senior Ashton Miller to take the lead for good with 1:25 left in the game.

"I thought we played well," claimed Slater head coach Bob Gonzalez. "We just made too many mental mistakes."

It was a seesaw battle from the start, with five lead changes in the first 10 minutes. Slater sophomore Niki Kruger connected on three perimeter shots during that stretch.

The Lady 'Cats enjoyed a 33-28 advantage with two minutes remaining in the first half when senior Hannah Boyer converted entry passes into the low post from junior Rachel Gonzalez on back-to-back possessions.

The second period was a defensive gem for the Purple, which allowed only two shots from the floor -- only sophomore Merideth Norfleet's going in -- and forcing 10 turnovers.

"I felt like if we could keep our five in front of their five, we could shoot them down," Gonzalez said.

A Gonzalez bomb extended the margin to six points early in the third period, but it all changed for Slater when Kruger's nose was bloodied by an elbow -- with, naturally, the recipient of the blow being called for the foul -- with 5:52 to go in the frame.

Kruger returned for the fourth quarter -- with a different, unblooded uniform and tissue plugging a nostril -- but by then Northwest was on top after going on a 9-3 run capped by sophomore Mariah Wiskur's three-pointer.

"We've subbed all year long and had other people run the point," Gonzalez said. "I thought we could attack the basket, but we missed some."

Kruger connected on a mid-range jumper, sank a runner from the lane and made two free throws. The Lady 'Cats were in front by three points after sophomore Brittany Cornine posted up inside with 4:41 left in the game.

Slater didn't make another field goal and the Lady Mustangs caught up on sophomore Merideth Norfleet's transition bucket. Two Boyer free throws were answered by Brown -- finding the mark from the paint, where she had been camped well beyond the legal three seconds.

Miller, Wiskur and Norfleet closed out the win by making all their charity shots.

Norfleet finished with 23 points and six steals for Northwest (12-11), which will take on top seed Concordia in Wednesday's semifinal.

Despite missing most of the third quarter, Kruger paced Slater with 19 points, Gonzalez contributing 10 points and five assists. At 9-16, the Lady 'Cats -- due to bring back six players from the usual nine-man rotation -- more than doubled their win total from last season, snapping a 25-game Lewis and Clark Conference losing streak.

"These girls have played hard all year long," Gonzalez declared. "We've got some key players returning. Hopefully, the girls stay active and we just keep getting better."