Knights' inside-outside combination too much for Eagles

BRAZIL -- In the first season of a split Western Indiana Conference, the Northview girls secured the top spot in the Western Division by the narrowest of margins after recording a 60-42 victory over South Putnam Friday night.

Northview sophomore Olivia Lundy and Eagles' senior Katie Hewitt battled each other in the post over the opening eight minutes. Early on it was Hewitt, who got the best of the match-up, scoring eight points and hitting all four of her field goal attempts in the opening period.

However, she went to the bench with her second foul with 59 seconds left in the quarter and would remain on the bench the rest of the half.

The six-foot duo of Olivia and Jenny Lundy went to work in the post with more success after Hewitt's exit, combining for 10 points before intermission. Meanwhile, Stacy Payton was drawing contact on her drives to the rim as she successfully hit all six of her free throws in the opening half.

Northview was able to open a 27-21 lead at halftime, but opened the second half with a flurry.

Payton drained a 3-pointer and added a pair of free throws. Hewitt and Maddie McHugh responded with two points apiece to get the Eagles within 32-25.

However, the Knights finished the third period on a 15-3 run as Reason drilled a pair of 3-pointers on her way to 19 points. Payton added seven more points in the quarter as the lead grew to 47-28 for the Knights.

The Eagles made a last rush in the final quarter as Ally Nichols hit a jumper and Miranda Bieghler scored with 2:20 remaining. Lillie Stein added a free throw and Jess Vensko would finish the scoring in the game with a field goal for the Eagles.

The Eagles (9-8 overall) travel to North Central on Monday at 6 p.m.

Northview 15 12 20 13 - 60

S. Putnam 14 7 7 14 - 42

South Putnam (42)

Modglin 1-4 0-0 2, Bieghler 2-12 1-2 4, Hewitt 5-6 4-6 14, Carmichael 1-2 0-2 2, Stein 0-10 7-8 7, Nichols 1-3 0-0 2, McHugh 2-4 1-2 5, Vensko 2-2 0-0 4, Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0, Bratcher 0-0 0-0 0, Boswell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 13-21 42.

3-point field goals - Nv 6-14 (Reason 5-10, Payton 1-3, Conrad 0-1), SP 1-16 (Bieghler 1-7, Stein 0-6, Modglin 0-2, Nichols 0-1). Total Rebounds - Nv 30 (O. Lundy 8, Reason 6), SP 27 (Hewitt 6). Total Fouls - Nv 15, SP 17. Turnovers - Nv 17, SP 15.