Red Devils Win First NWAC Women’s Basketball Title on Nnadi’s Overtime Buzzer Beater

EVERETT, Wash. – The final game of the NWAC Basketball Championships was one of the most exciting, featuring the first overtime game and buzzer beater of the entire tournament as the Lower Columbia Women's Basketball team defeated Peninsula 76-75 in a thriller.

With 18 seconds left in overtime and trailing 75-73, the Red Devils got one final possession to tie or take the lead. Michaela Harris dribbled on the perimeter before eventually finding Chinedu Nnadi open on the wing, who took the three-point shot and sunk it as the final buzzer sounded, sending LCC to the victory. After a short review, the called stood as a three-pointer and the Red Devils celebrated their first-ever NWAC Women's Basketball title.

Nnadi's shot was not the first clutch shot that had to be hit for LCC to keep their title hopes alive. With 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter and down by three, Harris hit a three pointer that tied the game and eventually sent things to overtime.

A back-and-forth game between the Red Devils and Pirates featured 17 lead changes and 14 tied scores. Lower Columbia led at most by five points which occurred early in the first quarter, often playing from behind or with a small lead.

Despite turning the ball over 31 times, the Red Devils shot well overall finishing 47.4 percent from the field and 60 percent from behind the arc. LCC had a large 9-1 advantage over Peninsula in three pointers made. The Pirates did a great job as they have all season in forcing mistakes by their opponents, recording 19 steals. They also had 20 offensive rebounds leading to 18 second chance points.

Tournament Most Valuable Player Jodi Noyes finished with 20 points and nine rebounds, coming up big for the Red Devils in overtime where she had five points. All-Tournament First Team and Most Inspirational selection Danica Schmidt had 16 points with nine rebounds and three blocks. Harris, who was named to the Second Team, had 15 points. Jazlynn Novelli, also selected to the Second Team, finished with 11 points. Nnadihad five points and four rebounds in 13 minutes played and made the most important shot of the season for the Red Devils.

Peninsula's Emilia Long, a First Team All-Tournament selection, led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds. Hope Glasser had 20 points, seven rebounds, five steals and four assists as she was named to the Second Team. Ituau Tuisaula, named to the First Team, recorded 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Red Devils had a thrilling run through the NWAC Tournament and finish the year on a 16-game winning streak. After a pair of double-digit victories, the Red Devils knocked off undefeated Lane in the semifinals before coming up with the thrilling overtime victory in the finals against another No. 1 seed in Peninsula.

All-Tournament Team

Tournament MVP
Jodi Noyes, Lower Columbia

Most Inspirational
Danica Schmidt, Lower Columbia

First Team
Brooke Bullock, Clackamas
Emilia Long, Peninsula
Emma McKenney, Lane
Danica Schmidt, Lower Columbia
Ituau Tuisaula, Peninsula

Second Team
Kylie Fernstrom, Clackamas
Hope Glasser, Peninsula
Bella Hamel, Lane
Michaela Harris, Lower Columbia
Jazlynn Novelli, Lower Columbia


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Contact: Iain Dexter; idexter@clark.edu