Box Score Monmouth advanced to the championship game of the Midwest Conference Tournament for the fourth straight year, this time downing defending conference champion Cornell 88-80 in the semifinals Friday afternoon despite two of the Scots' top three scorers fouling out.

Both teams took advantage of big runs, but the Scots put the game's final run together to take the lead for good on two free throws by Jacquice Cooper with 3:29 left in the game, putting Monmouth up 71-79. Cooper – who finished with a team-high 19 points and went 13-for-15 from the line – fouled out in the game's final minute to become the third starter to foul out. Marla Willard and Kim Coleman each picked up their fifth fouls down the stretch.

Monmouth will meet the winner of the St. Norbert vs. Carroll game Saturday night at 6 with the winner receiving the league's automatic NCAA Tournament berth.