SYRACUSE -ÊThe Northwood Panthers Wawasee Friday in a match-up of similar teams. Both teams went into the game with identical records (7-5), and both have looked at this season as a transition after losing major contributors and four-year starters to graduation.

Northwood standout, Carol Duncan has taken her game to Purdue University while Wawasee's Shanna Zolman is at the University of Tennessee.

While those two are gone, the rivalry certainly remained and it was the Warriors who came out on top 67-58 in overtime.

Wawasee coach Kem Zolman has emphasized all season the need for his team to play consistent basketball for an entire game to be successful.

However, the Warriors had another "dead spot," relinquishing an 11-point third-quarter lead before picking up the overtime win.

A hot-hand propelled the Warriors to an early lead.

Wawasee made six of its first seven shots, but only led 13-11 before stretching the lead to 23-15 at the end of the first quarter.

Wawasee endured a lackluster second quarter, failing to score in the first four minutes. Fortunately for Wawasee, the Panthers only scored two points themselves. By the end of the first half the score was was 30-21 Wawasee.

The Warriors jumped out to an 11-point lead early in the second half as the Warriors found senior Jocelyn Higginbotham open under the basket. Northwood came right back to with in six at 34-28 but the Warriors stretched the lead back to 11 with just over 3 minutes left in the third. It was about then that things fell apart for the Warriors.

Northwood had climbed back to with in five at 41-36 by the end of the third. A Panther trey to start the fourth and all of a sudden it was just a two-point Wawasee lead. Duncan's younger sister, Audrey, then made a pair of free throws to tie the game. Another Northwood three-pointer, at the 5:43 mark remaining and the Panthers held a three-point lead. The Panthers had scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter as part of a 12-0 run. In fact another three and the Panthers would hold a five-point lead at 48-43.

It was now time for some late-game heroics from Wawasee sophomore Rachel Canen. A three-pointer from her helped the Warriors to draw close and then a pair of free throws from Higginbotham and Jessica Leach and then one of two from Wawasee's Megan Wallen and the game would be tied at 51 setting the stage for more Canen.

After Northwood scored the first basket in overtime it was Canen for a three and then Canen on a steal and a basket and the Warriors led 56-53. After a Northwood basket Canen made another three to take the Warriors to 59-55. On the resulting possession the Warriors were whistled for a foul. Northwood coach Steve Neff seemed to be arguing for a shooting foul when he was charged with a technical. The Warriors Canen went down court and made both free throws to give Wawasee a 61-55 lead with just about a minute left in the game. The Warriors held on to win 67-58 as Canen scored 12 of her 18 points in overtime. Jocelyn Higginbotham also finished with 18 for Wawasee as Jessica Leach had 13, Crystal Fawley had 6 and 5 each for Megan Wallen and Rachel Stichter. Misti Hershberger had two.

The Warriors record now stands at 8-5 overall and 2-1 in the NLC. Northwood falls to 7-6 and they are also 2-1 in the conference. [[In-content Ad]]