Lady Jays start fast, finish with 81-67 triumph to move to semifinals

Top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Minnesota West never trailed Thursday afternoon and advanced to the NJCAA Division 3 Women's Basketball Tournament semifinals with an 81-67 triumph over eighth-seeded Onondaga Community College.

The Lady Jays, now 24-5 on the season, ran out to a 28-12 advantage at first quarter's end and were up 43-26 at halftime. Minnesota West went on to lead by as many as 24 points before Onondaga got closer in the final minutes.

Sophomore Katrina Schutz, the MCAC South Division Player of the Year, topped the Lady Jays in scoring with 21 points while adding 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Another sophomore, Sadie Krahling, added 19 points, while freshman Payton Riemers was next with 15 points and freshman Izzy Klumper had 11. Maddie Kamm, Minnesota West's sophomore point guard, had nine points, 14 rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

Onondaga, which is now also 24-5, shot 35% on its field goal attempts and was 8-of-31 on 3-point tries. Jada Crocker, who had 28 in the Lazers' 17-point first-round victory Wednesday, had just 12 against the Lady Jays.

Minnesota West will play either fourth-seeded Monroe-Bronx or fifth-seeded Fulton-Montgomery in a semifinal matchup scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday. Should the Lady Jays win again, they'll play for their second national title in three years at 2 p.m. Saturday. The tournament is being played in Brownwood, Texas.