MINNEAPOLIS -- The Ridgewater College Lady Warriors are back in national tournament for the first time since 2002 after spilling Minneapolis 62-50 Saturday evening in the Region 13A championship.
Sophomore guard Jenny Cunningham led the Lady Warriors with 19 points and six assists. Center Terra Billiet supplied 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots. Jamie Munson also hit double figures with 14 points, sinking 7 of 7 free throws.
"We jumped to a 14-0 lead and never let them inside of eight points in the second half," said coach Carrie Ogdahl. "The girls were really aggressive."
Ridgewater finished sixth in the NJCAA Division III tournament in 2002 and third in 2001.
The region will also be represented by Madison (Wis.) Area Technical College which beat MCCC state champion Itasca College in 13B.
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The Lady Warriors made 17 of 20 free throw attempts against Minneapolis.
Ridgewater and the Marauders had split in the regular season and shared the Southern Division title before going on to finish third and second, respectively in the state tournament.
Last year Ridgewater lost the 13A playoff to Anoka-Ramsey. The national tournament is in Utica, N.Y., March 16-18.
Ogdahl does not anticipate making it to the tournament. She is expecting March 15. Her father Mike Johnson, retired Warriors' coach, would take the team in her absence.
Ridgewater 62, Minneapolis 50
Ridgewater (20-7) 29 33 -- 62
Minneapolis (17-12) 18 32 -- 50
RIDGEWATER COLLEGE - 22-55 FG (1-4 3 pt); 17-20 FT; 50 rebounds; 16 fouls ... Scoring: Kayla Karnes 0-2 4-7 4, Jenny Cunningham 7-13 5-5 19, Ashley Olson 1-3 0-0 2, Jamie Munson 3-8 7-7 14, Melissa Sterkel 1-2 0-0 2, Sarah Primus 2-6 1-1 5, Katie Johnson 1-3 0-0 2, Terra Billiet 7-18 0-0 14 ... 3-point shots: Munson 1-1 ... Rebound leader: Billiet 16, Karnes 6, Cunningham 6, ... Assist leader: Karnes 2, Cunningham 6 ... Steal leader: Karnes 2 ... Blocked shots: Billiet 5
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MINNEAPOLIS TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 19-68 FG (2-15 3 pt); 10-16 FT; 39 rebounds; 20 fouls ... Scoring: Gabby Gustafson 4-13 2-2 12, Shakira Owens 5-10 0-2 10, Amy Kelvie, Gwen Young 2-9 2-4 6 , Huldah Omesa 2-8 2-2 6, Jayme Young 1-9 3-4 5, Lakita Davis 5-17 1-2 11 ... 3-point shots: Gustafson 2 ... Rebound leader: Davis 9, Omesa 6 ... Assist leader: Young 5... Steal leader: Davis 4
