#HLWBB Three Stars of the Day - Monday, March 9
By Josh Ayen
Sports Capital Journalism Program, IUPUI
INDIANAPOLIS – The three stars of the day from Monday's #HLWBB semifinal games.
Destiny Perkins, IUPUI: Perkins was the sparkplug for the Jaguars in their 71-54 win over Cleveland State. The redshirt sophomore led all IUPUI scorers and tied her career-high in points (15) and 3-pointers made (3).
Perkins’ impact was felt when she entered the game midway through the first quarter. With IUPUI struggling to establish a rhythm on offense, Perkins ignited a 5-point surge to make it a 1-point game at the end of the first quarter, 16-15.
Perkins also benefitted with some wide open looks beyond the 3-point line as her teammate Macee Williams was double- and triple-teamed all afternoon.
“That’s something we prepared for all week,” Perkins said. “We knew what spots to be in.”
The Jaguars fed off Perkins’ energy in the second quarter as IUPUI held Cleveland State to four second-quarter points in the period.
Ally Niece, Northern Kentucky: Niece finished with a team-high 17 points in a 50-49 loss to Green Bay. After having six points in the first half, the All-League Second Team sophomore scored 14 points off 6-of-11 shooting in the second half.
With a trip to the Horizon League championship round on the line, Niece did not flinch. The sophomore scored a go-ahead 3-point play with 36.8 seconds to go in regulation to put NKU in front for the first time since the early minutes of the second quarter.
Frankie Wurtz, Green Bay: Monday was not the finest performance for Wurtz. The All-League First Team guard finished with a game-high 17 points in Green Bay’s 50-49 win over NKU, but she took 18 shots to reach that point total.
Even with Wurtz’s shooting struggles on Monday, head coach Kevin Borseth turned to his redshirt senior to win the game for the Phoenix.
Two plays sealed Green Bay’s win over NKU. Wurtz was at the center of both of them.
With 19 seconds left in the game, Wurtz drained a turnaround jumper to put Green Bay ahead, 48-47. Seconds after NKU regained the lead on a driving layup, Wurtz attacked the rim with a right-handed drive along the baseline. The ball banked off the glass before cementing the 50-49 win over NKU.
“We cannot go into the locker room crying,” Wurtz said following the win. “I just remembered we all stayed with it and just believed at the end. My coaches and my teammates believed in me at the end of the game with those two (game-winning) plays.”