N. Kentucky advances to DII championship game

3/27/2008 9:04 PM

KEARNEY, Neb. (AP) -Danyelle Echoles had 13 points to lead a balanced offensive attack as Northern Kentucky beat Alaska-Anchorage 57-54 Thursday to reach the championship game at the NCAA Division II Women's Elite Eight.

The Norse (27-8) will play the winner of the late semifinal between Delta State and South Dakota in Saturday's championship game. It will be Northern Kentucky's third appearance in a national title game. The Norse won it all in 2000 and were runners-up in 2003.

Jessie Slack had 12 points and Angela Healy and Cassie Brennan had 10 apiece for the Norse. Nicole Chiodi had nine points and 12 rebounds.

Cold-shooting Alaska-Anchorage (30-5) made it close down the stretch, despite hitting just 29 percent of its shots.

The Norse led 26-21 at the half but went seven minutes without a basket. The best the Seawolves could do, however, was tie the game 26-26.

Northern Kentucky had two nine-point leads in the second half, the last one at 50-41 with 3:53 left.

The Norse started knocking down free throws down the stretch, making seven of eight in the last two minutes. The closest UAA could get was two points.

Northern Kentucky finished the night 19-for-21 from the line.

Rebecca Kielpinski was 12-for-12 from the line for the Seawolves, who made more free throws (18) than field goals (17). Kielpinski had 16 points to lead UAA. Ruby Williams had 12 points and Kalhie Quinones added 10.