MANKATO — In a game that featured 57 fouls and 84 free throws, St. Peter defeated Kenyon-Wanamingo 71-68 in overtime in the championship game of the Section 2AA North Subsection girls basketball tournament Monday at Minnesota State, Mankato’s Bresnan Arena.
K-W jumped out to a 13-2 lead but then St. Peter — the North's No. 1 seed and ranked eighth in the state Class AA poll — outscored the Knights 17-1 over a five-minute span. St. Peter led 29-23 at halftime and led 37-25 early in the second half, but K-W made three straight 3-pointers to go ahead 46-45 at the 8-minute mark.
The Saints tied the game with 20 seconds left in regulation to send it into overtime. The Saints never trailed in the overtime, though the lead was never more than four points. Kassandra McCabe and Sidney Dirks each made a free throw to secure the victory.
Shelby Auseth led the Knights with 24 points, but she fouled out late in the second half. The No. 2-seeded Knights (19-9) were 27 of 46 from the free throw line.
St. Peter (24-4), the two-time defending section champion, plays NRHEG — 29-0 and ranked second in the state poll — for the Section 2AA championship at 8 p.m. Friday at Gustavus.
