MILWAUKEE — Baraga sophomore Carsyn Osterman was one of two Finlandia women’s basketball players to score in double figures as the Lions won the American Collegiate Athletic Association league championship for the first time on Sunday afternoon.

Finlandia defeated California-Santa Cruz 60-50 to also run its winning streak to a school-record 11 games as the Lions improved to 16-11.

“The underdog prevails,” Lions head coach Mariah Dunham said in a school news release. “I’m very blessed to coach these young ladies. They have influenced me, tested me and made me a better coach.

“We were tough enough to handle it because we have been tested.”

Osterman started and scored 15 points, making 9 of 10 free throws, and pulled down six rebounds, blocked two shots, tallied two assists and made a steal in 29 minutes.

Teammate Katie Lundeen recorded team highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds with two assists.

Late in the first quarter and her team leading 13-8, Osterman scored in the paint to begin a 17-2 run that stretched into the middle of the second quarter and made it 30-10. They upped their lead to 43-22 by halftime and still led 52-31 after three quarters.

The Banana Slugs (14-12) fought back in the fourth, getting within 56-50 with 1:30 left before Osterman hit four free throws in the final 50 seconds.

Three other area players also scored for Finlandia.

Ishpeming sophomore Mariah Austin had seven points with a 3-pointer, two rebounds and an assist, block and steal in just 12 minutes.

L’Anse junior Bailey Froberg started and scored six points with four rebounds, an assist and a steal, while Ishpeming sophomore Katie Loman added two points, three rebounds and two steals.

Osterman had an even better game when the Lions fended off Pine Manor 78-62 in the ACAA semifinals on Saturday night.

She posted a triple double with 11 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists as the fourth player in program history to achieve that statistical feat. Osterman made 5 of 6 free throws and also had five steals and two blocks.

But she wasn’t even the leading or second-leading scorer among area players on the team as Froberg scored 17 points with a pair of triples as she added three rebounds, two steals and an assist.

And Austin had 12 points with a 3-pointer, three assists, two rebounds and a steal in 18 minutes.

Loman added four points, going 2 of 2 on free throws, with two assists and two steals.

In that game, FU jumped out to a 17-10 lead after one quarter, maintaining it at 37-30 at halftime before opening up a 60-40 advantage entering the fourth.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.