SARANAC LAKE — A 14-0 run to finish the game led the No. 2 North Country Community College women's basketball team to a 65-60 victory over No. 7 Hudson Valley Community College Tuesday in an NJCAA Region III quarterfinal.
The Saints' final push came in the last 3 minutes and 30 seconds of the fourth quarter when they began to press and take advantage of the opportunities their defense created.
"We made the game really fast," North Country coach Jerrad Dumont said. "We really struggled to score throughout the game until the last couple minutes. We were missing layups and not shooting too well at the free throw line (10-18).
Kiara Sweeney totaled 13 points, while Danielle Cook (12) and Jasmine Perea (10) also hit double digits for the Saints.
Hannah Kreiger racked up a game-high 21 points for the Vikings, and Taylor Engster added 20.
With the win, North Country advanced to play No. 3 Columbia-Greene Community College in the semifinals at 3 p.m. Saturday at Finger Lakes Community College.
"We beat (Hudson Valley) twice, so I don't think we were as intense as we needed to be in this game," Dumont said. "Our girls are going to be playing with more energy and intensity next time. We have to."