EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Michelle Cottrell scored 31 points Saturday night as Northern Kentucky University defeated Southern Indiana 69-66 in the championship game of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament.

        Cottrell, who made 12 of 19 attempts from the field, also was named the tournament's most valuable player as NKU (26-6) earned a trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. She scored 23 points in the second half as NKU held off the top-seeded Eagles (27-6).

        “Michelle Cottrell showed everyone why she is the best player in the country, and this is a very rewarding victory,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “We hung in there when Southern Indiana made a run, and it's a great win.”lf and won de spite making just 10 of 21 free throws. Suzie Smith added 12 points for NKU, which is ranked No.10 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.

        Southern Indiana, which is ranked No.4 nationally in Division II, was led by Jessica Stuckman's 14 points.

        This will be NKU's third trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in the past four years. NKU captured the 2000 NCAA Division II national title in Pine Bluff, Ark.

        “It's always special to go to the Elite Eight, but this team has really done amazing things to get there this season,” Winstel said, noting NKU had to win three games in three days on Southern Indiana's home court.

        NKU will meet South Dakota State on March 20 in the Elite Eight at Rochester, Minn.

        NKU (69) — Cottrell 12-19 7-10 31, Mobley 3-7 0-2 7, Schubeler 2-4 1-2 5, Smith 4-7 2-4 12, Flanagan 3-7 0-0 7, Burrows 0-1 0-0 0, Polosky 2-3 0-3 5, Phillips 0-1 0-0 0, Brock 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 27-51 10-21 69.

        SI (66) — Hughes 4-13 0-0 9, Stuckman 7-10 0-0 14, Irwin 3-7 1-4 7, Miller 0-2 2-2 2, Moore 4-12 1-2 9, Wall 3-9 3-4 12, Wooley 0-0 0-2 0, McIntosh 0-3 0-0 0, Sherrod 4-9 4-4 13. Totals: 26-65 11-18 66.

        3-pointers: NKU 5-11 (Cottrell 0-1, Mobley 1-2, Smith 2-3 Flanagan 1-2, Polosky 1-2, Brock 0-1), SI 5-17 (Huges 1-5, Moore 0-2, Wall 3-7, McIntosh 0-2, Sherrod 1-1. Halftime NKU 29, SI 24. Records: NKU (26-6), SI (27-6).

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