For a while, it appeared that Northwestern Lehigh would coast to a win in its quarterfinal matchup against Bangor.

Up by as many as 12 points after three quarters, and then 11 with just 1:20 left in regulation, a trip to the semifinals looked to be inevitable.

As it turns out, the Tigers will be playing for a Colonial League championship Friday night, but it wasn’t easy. Bangor mounted a late rally that fell just short, falling to Northwestern 33-31.

When Bangor’s Madison Kluska hit a three-pointer with 1:15 left in the game, it seemed insignificant, cutting the Tigers lead to 31-23. Then, McCormick Karner hit two free throws in two separate trips to the foul line and the lead was down to six, but with just: 16 left to play, it still felt relatively safe.

The safety net disappeared when Madeline Stout banked in a long three-pointer from 30-feet out and made it a one possession game with: 07 left in regulation.

As per the game plan, Northwestern’s trip down the floor was interrupted by a Bangor foul to send Ali Lister to the line for a one-and-one. The first shot rose toward the basket and sank through the net for a little breathing room, and the second was also right on the mark as Northwestern found itself up 33-28.

Those free throws turned out to be game-winners when just before the buzzer, Kluska buried a shot from 50-feet out to set the final score.

“When she made that shot, I kind of looked at the scoreboard very quickly to make sure we really were up by five,” said Lister. “I obviously knew those foul shots were important but at that point, you’re not thinking that they’re going to get a quick three-pointer off.”

Foul shots have been a specialty for Northwestern since its 2-for-12 performance from the line helped send it to its only loss of the season against Notre Dame Green Pond. The Tigers have had nights where they hit 20-of-21 and 20-of-24 from the free-throw line since then, and realize the importance of doing the little things right. Ironically, Northwestern was just 4-for-9 in foul shots Wednesday night against Bangor.

“When you look back to that game against Whitehall, that was an extra 20 points that we scored, and it shows how important those things are,” Lister noted. “We’ve really focused on things like that since then because we saw what it can cost you.”

Another key was the three-point shooting of Kailyn Jones, who had been in a mild slump from beyond the arc. Jones came out and nailed her first three-point attempt of the night, and then went on to hit two more to finish with nine points.

“I was putting some pressure on myself because I had been struggling, and that’s my role with this team is to hit those shots,” Jones said. “Coach told me after the game Tuesday night that they would need me to hit those tonight, and I knew when I hit that first one that I was zoned in again.”

“I think sometimes that these girls put more pressure on themselves than we do as coaches. I told Kailyn to keep shooting because she can make those shots, so there’s no reason for her to stop shooting,” said coach Chris Deutsch. “I think she put too much pressure on herself, and tonight when we really needed her to step up, she did it and I never doubted that she would.”

WHERE DID YOU GO? ... Northwestern players were hoping for a rematch in the league finals against Notre Dame to atone for their only loss of the season. The Crusaders stumbled and lost to Palmerton in the other semifinal last night, however, so the Tigers will face the Bombers for the Colonial League championship Friday night at Moravian Academy. The two teams met twice during the regular season, with Northwestern sweeping the games by scores of 63-36 and 49-42.

DEFENSIVE BATTLE ... Apart from scoring just 26 points in its loss to Notre Dame, the 33 points were the lowest output of the season for Northwestern. The Tigers had three players battle for the team-high in scoring, with Paige Sevrain finishing with 10 points, Jones nine and Lister eight.

BANGOR

Smith 0-0-0-0, Ohland 1-0-0-2, E. Stout 2-0-0-4, Holland 1-2-2-4, Karner 3-3-5-9, Toth 0-1-2-1, M. Stout 1-0-0-3, Kluska 3-0-0-8. TOTALS: 12-6-9-31

NORTHWESTERN

Betz 0-0-0-0, Lister 3-2-4-8, Miller 1-0-0-2, Jones 3-0-1-9, Ledeboer 1-0-0-2, Nyce 1-0-0-2, Sevrain 4-2-3-10. TOTALS: 13-4-8-33

Bangor 8 3 7 13 - 31

Northwestern 9 11 7 6 - 33

Three-pointers: Bangor – Kluska 2, M. Stout 1; Northwestern – Jones 3.