MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College women's basketball team overcame a second-half surge from Concordia Wisconsin to advance to the 2012 Northern Athletics Conference Tournament championship game for the second straight season with a 61-55 semifinal win over the Falcons on Friday night at the Recreation Complex.

The Warriors came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as they took a 15-4 lead at the 13:48 mark. After the Falcons scored the next seven points, WLC responded by going on a 17-2 run to take its largest lead of the game of 19 points, 32-13, with 4:59 left before halftime. However, CUW closed out the opening half on a 14-4 run to trail by nine points, 36-27, at the break.

Rachel Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) scored 13 first-half points on 6-for-8 shooting from the floor to lead all players in the period. The Warriors shot 59.3 percent (16-for-27) from the floor in the first half, while holding the Falcons to just 29.2 percent (7-for-24) shooting. Kendall Kerns netted eight first-half points for CUW.

Wisconsin Lutheran scored the first four points of the second half, but Concordia Wisconsin used a 12-1 run to get within just two points, 41-39, with 12:34 remaining. With WLC in front 48-42, CUW went on a 9-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 51-48 with 8:31 left in the game. The lead changed hands four times over the next four minutes before the Warriors ultimately went in front for good following a pair of Johnson free-throws at the 3:22 mark.

A rebound put-back from Katelyn Kuehl (Fond du Lac, Wis./Winnebago Lutheran) and three made free-throws sealed the win for the Warriors.

The Warriors shot 33.3 percent (7-for-21) in the second half, while the Falcons shot 34.6 percent (9-for-26). CUW out-scored WLC 13-5 in points off turnovers.

Shavon Dillon (Milwaukee, Wis./Hope School) joined Johnson in double figures with 10 points. Kuehl added nine points, while both Johnson and Kuehl tied for a game high with eight rebounds. For the game, the Warriors shot 47.9 percent (23-for-48) from the floor. WLC out-rebounded CUW, 38-27.

Katie Luethe netted a team-high 15 points to pace three Falcons (16-11, 13-5 NAC) players in double figures. CUW shot an effective 18-for-21 from the free-throw line in the contest.

Wisconsin Lutheran (23-4, 17-1 NAC) hosts second-seeded Dominican (19-8, 13-4 NAC) on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Recreation Complex in the NAC Tournament championship game. The Stars advanced to the title game with a 76-71 win over third-seeded MSOE on Friday night in River Forest, Ill. The winner receives the conference's automatic berth to the 2012 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. Fans unable to attend the game can follow the action via live audio, stats and video at wlcsports.com.