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.