The Warsaw girls basketball team took a huge leap toward a second-straight NLC title Saturday with a 53-52 win at Northridge. 

The Lady Tigers (13-4, 4-0) found themselves down 15-5 after one quarter and 18-7 in the first two minutes of the second, with the Lady Raiders' defense causing all kinds of trouble in the first 10 minutes of the game. 

Warsaw was able to gain their composure and narrow the gap to four at halftime, 22-18. 

Warsaw had a terrific third period, outscoring the home team 17-8 to take a 35-30 advantage into the final eight minutes. A pair of 3-point baskets by So. Abbey Peterson and another by Fr. Brooke Zartman helped turn the moment in the Lady Tigers' favor. 

Warsaw held the lead until the final two minutes, when a Lady Raider bucket was followed by full-court pressure that forced a chaotic turnover and layup for Northridge in the game's final minute. 

But, with the game tied at 52 with :07 left and the Lady Tigers in possession, a missed shot led to an offensive rebound by Zartman who was fouled in the act of tipping the ball back up toward the basket with :02 to play. 

She missed the first but made the second to put Warsaw in the lead. 

A last-second heave at the buzzer by the Lady Raiders was wide to the right, preserving the win and putting the Lady Tigers on the inside track to the conference title.