The Minnesota West Lady Jays finished off their run to their first national championship in history on Saturday as they beat tournament host and arch-rival Rochester 76-60. Top-seeded Minnesota West earned its spot in Saturday’s finals by topping another familiar foe, Northland, 68-55, on Friday.
Against second-seeded Rochester – which defeated the Lady Jays in the national title game last year – Minnesota West led 21-15 after the first quarter and went into the locker room at halftime up 42-33 following an Audrey Drapeau buzzer-beating three just in front of the halfcourt line. Rochester, which was forced to go with a rotation of just six players for most of the game due to injuries, rallied in the third quarter and inched ahead 50-49 with 54 seconds left in the period, but another 3 from Drapeau with 11 seconds left in the quarter gave the Lady Jays the lead back for good.
The Yellow Jackets had three players foul out and finished the game playing at a five-on-four disadvantage. Minnesota West outscored Rochester 24-10 over the last 10 minutes to finish off its historic win. Hattie DeVries finished with 23 points, while Drapeau and Olivia Hayenga had 22 apiece.
There will be a celebration event for the Lady Jays at noon Monday in the commons area at Minnesota West's Worthington campus. Hear an interview with coach Rosalie "Moz" Hayenga-Hostikka following the game at PODCASTS | Radio Works (myradioworks.net).
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The Minnesota West baseball team split four games over the weekend. Playing in their home opener Friday, the Bluejays swept Rochester 10-0 and 5-3. On Saturday, they lost a pair of games at Northeast Community College, 11-1 and 6-5.
