Speweik's big shot lifts Westminster

This did not seem like the time for a 1-point game to be put in the hands of a freshman.

But Westminster Christian's Claire Speweik showed she's no ordinary first-year player in Thursday night's Northeastern Athletic Conference girls basketball game at Christian Liberty.

Speweik calmly swished a 16-footer with 1:22 to play to put Westminster (5-3, 1-1) ahead to stay in a 36-33 victory at Grace Gym in Arlington Heights.

“She's one of the calmest kids I've ever coached,” Westminster coach Ken Flickinger said after Speweik scored 7 of her 9 points in the final 7:19.

“I don't even know what happened,” Speweik said of the shot which erased a 32-31 deficit. “I just remember thinking, ‘Please go in.'”

Speweik also dropped in 3 of 4 free throws in the final 13.6 seconds including two to set the final score with three seconds to go.

That helped Westminster survive 17.6 percent shooting (12-for-68) from the field thanks to numerous alterations in a triple-double by 6-foot-3 Christian Liberty senior Brittany Negron (15 points, 21 rebounds, 10 blocked shots).

“In eight games we've faced six girls 6-3 or taller so we've had a lot of practice,” Flickinger said. “She has improved so much over the last time we saw her last year.

“I really thought we did a good job (defensively), especially late. She's tough. She's a handful.”

Westminster missed its first 14 second-half shots but hit three straight in a 7-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Speweik's baseline jumper and a drive and a 3-pointer by Hannah Graves (12 points, 7 rebounds) made it a 27-23 lead.

Christian Liberty (6-3, 2-1) regained the lead at 31-29 on a rebound basket by Holly Swiderek (12 points) at 2:49. But 3 of its 30 turnovers in the final two minutes led to Westminster free throws.

“At times we look sweet for five minutes and the next four minutes … it's what happened,” said Chargers coach Steve Rowland. “We keep reiterating to the girls that we know how good we can be, but we know we can't turn the ball over (30) times and win.”

Annie Salsgiver found Negron for a layup with five seconds left to cut Westminster's lead to 34-33. After Speweik's 2 free throws, Christian Liberty got the ball to midcourt and called timeout.

Salsgiver's 21-foot try at the top of the key to force overtime rimmed out.

“It's pretty big,” Speweik said. “We really need this game and we really pulled through.”