Timely 3-pointers propel Glenbard North to win

Sometimes it's not how many 3-pointers you make, it's when you make them.

Glenbard North sophomore Leah Miller hit back-to-back 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter - the Panthers' only points from beyond the arc - to wipe out a 36-31 deficit and propel the visitors to a 54-47 victory over Naperville North in the DuPage Valley Conference on Thursday in Naperville.

Miller finished with 11 points, including two free throws with 1:04 remaining that extended Glenbard North's lead to 47-40. But it was her two jumpers from the left side that swung the momentum the Panthers' way.

"(Miller) has been our shooter," Glenbard North coach John Chamberlain said. "We needed those. She's been in a slump for a couple of games, so it was nice to see her working her way out of it. Those were huge for us."

Miller's first 3-pointer came just 20 seconds after a basket by Morgan Lockridge gave Naperville North (10-10, 4-7) its biggest lead of the game. The 5-foot-7 guard said she usually has the green light when she finds herself open.

"Hopefully, usually, when my feet are set," she said. "Otherwise, (her shot) doesn't look good. Usually, when I make one, I start getting confident and I make more. This win is going to give us a lot of confidence. I think we moved forward a lot tonight."

Sophomore forward Lauren Lee led Glenbard North (12-10, 5-7) with 16 points and 6 rebounds, and Jennifer Deegan added 11 points, 8 coming in the first quarter.

"We said we needed to take on some quality opponents, and the Huskies are that," Chamberlain said. "I looked to see who they beat in the conference and they were the same as us, so I thought we were pretty evenly matched. We made some really big baskets in the fourth quarter and secured the ball down the stretch."

Sophia Fumagalli had 17 points and Laurel Pereira added 10 for Naperville North. Six-foot-4 sophomore Sadie Jurkovic was hampered by foul trouble and held to 8 points.

"Give Glenbard North credit," Naperville North coach Jason Dycus said. "We could never get into a flow. I have to do a better job for these girls. It's on the coach. We got to do the little things better. We're harping on it. We're continuing to work.

"We had three great practices in a row and we didn't see the fruits of our labor tonight," Dycus added. "We just have to keep working hard."