Stuart Carmer’s girls basketball team will have a shot at its first-ever state championship after beating North Lincoln in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A western regional championship game at Lawrence Joel Veterans Meorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem on Monday afternoon.

The Storm led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but North Lincoln clawed back to within one point in the third quarter. Ultimately, the combination of Hadley Womack and Oshauna Holland was too much for the Knights to over. Cramer adavnced with a 62-38 win.

Offensively, Cramer started the game on a faster foot. Holland hit a pair of 3-point baskets — including one at the buzzer — and Womack scored five points as Cramer took a 15-8 lead after one quarter.

The Storm extended their lead to 13 points in the second quarter, but a late run by North Lincoln cut into that lead before halftime. Ally Smith scored a couple of baskets and Ashlyn Black hit two free throws to get the lead down to one point, but another buzzer-beating basket by Holland gave Cramer a 28-23 halftime lead.

Holland finished the fist half with 12 points to lead all scorers.

Holland and Womack took over in the second half for Cramer. Womack hit four 3-point baskets in the third quarter and Holland added four more points as the Storm extended its lead to 46-33, holding North Lincoln to just four field goals in the third quarter.

The 24-point lead at the end of the game was the largest of the afternoon for Cramer, which held North Lincoln to just one field goal and five points in the fourth quarter.

Womack led all scorers in the game with 22 points, including five made 3-point baskets. Holland finished with 21 points for Cramer, while Lauren Humphrey finished with 12 points.

Ashlyn Black led North Lincoln in scoring with 12 points. Hagler finished the game with 11 points for the Knights.

Cramer will face the winner of Terry Sanford and Western Alamance in the 3A state championship game on Friday. The eastern championship game is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday in Winston-Salem. This marks the first time in school history Cramer has played for a girls basketball state championship.

North LIncoln’s season ends with a record of (29-2). Monday’s loss was the first time the Knights have dropped a game since a 93-25 loss to Lake Norman in the season opener in November.