The Washburn University Lady Blues basketball team is headed to the national championship.

They had to win last night's game against Arkansas Central to advance. A convention center known as The Summitt in Hot Springs, was just the perfectly named place for a pair of teams with long win streaks trying to become the hottest team to climb into the women's division two national title game.

Central Arkansas entered on a 19 game sizzle. Washburn had won 17 in a row. Something had to give, and Washburn gave up plenty in the first half. Central Arkansas scored the first seven points, before, on the steal, Jen Harris tied it up at seven.

Jen Harris suffered from a back ache, and Washburn grimaced with a series of hiccups, missed lay-ups, and strangely, Carla Sintra slammed a megaphone and got a technical.

All that, and still Lora Westling's tray managed to give Washburn a two point lead. Central Arkansas led by two at the break. Then for a wild finish, Carla Sintra gave Washburn a six point lead.

Up four in the final 45 seconds, a tie up gave Central Arkansas the basketball, and the unthinkable happened, not once but twice. First Carone Harris hit a three point shot and got fouled, then hit the free throw to tie the game at 67.

But on the inbounds pass, Cindy Keeley got behind the defense, to the hole, scored, and got fouled. She miissed the free throw. Central Arkansas with the basketball and over 11 seconds to score or win the ball game- this time the Harris shot misses. Sintra rebounds, then a length of the court pass, and Cindy Keely's lay-up clinched the game.
The Washburn Lady Blues are going to play for the national title.