(Matt McCarthy/Daily News photo) Niagara senior Alyssa Cretton pulls up for a corner jump shot over Wausaukee's Melody Schaal (4), as the Rangers McKenzie Truesdell (22) and Autumn Schroeder look on, in the second half of Friday's WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal at Niagara.

NIAGARA, Wis. — There’s a belief in sports at any level that it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season. Friday night, Niagara had three players score in double figures and put that belief to rest, at least for now, as the Lady Badgers defeated Wausaukee 66-38 in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal.

Sophomore Josie Rock drained 16 points, while fellow sophomore Morgan Borchardt added 13. Badgers senior point guard Alyssa Cretton chipped in 12 points as Niagara (10-8) advances to play at Three Lakes tonight in the regional championship game at 7 p.m.

Both the Badgers and Rangers got off to a slow start offensively, kind of figuring one another out on both ends of the court.

“I think it might have been a bit of tournament jitters,” said Niagara head coach Karl Lamoreaux. “We had some really good practices the last couple of days, so I expected good games from some of the girls.”

Lamoreaux pointed to Borchardt’s performance as one of the keys to the outcome. “She played great tonight,” he said.

Niagara used their full-court press to get steals by Cretton and Rock, with Rock draining two trifectas for a 10-2 lead.

After Rangers head coach Dave Messar called two separate timeouts, two more steals led to a 16-2 Niagara lead at the 11:11 mark of the first half. The Badgers also were pushing the tempo on offense, which led to multiple fast break points later in the half.

The Badgers were also-out rebounding their Marinette-Oconto Conference opponent on both ends of the floor.

In the second half, with the outcome of the game already not in question, Niagara fell back into a half-court defense.

In the last few minutes of the game, Lamoreaux was able to substitute with his young JV players.

“I was happy to be able to get them into the game, so they could feel what it’s like to play during a varsity game,” Lamoreaux said. “A couple of them got in the scorebook, which is great.” Wausaukee played hard tonight, the same as they always do”

As for tonight’s opponent, the Lady Badgers played at Three Lakes on Dec. 30, losing by 11 points in a non-conference game that was close throughout.

“It was a tie game with six minutes left,” Lamoreaux said. “Three Lakes went on a run at the end and closed it out.”

Three Lakes advanced by defeating Florence 76-33. Details of that game were not available at press time.

Wausaukee 17 21 — 38

Niagara 36 30 — 66

WAUSAUKEE: Frost 2, M. Schaal 3, Schlies 23, Schroeder 6, Truesdell 1, Luccarini 3; FT: 12-19; F: 14; Fouled Out: Schlies, Luccarini; 3-point FG: None.

NIAGARA: Lukowicz 4, Maki 2, Allred 7, Pearson 4, Borchardt 13, Wells 8, Cretton 12, Rock 16; FT: 6-12; F: 19; Fouled Out: Champagne; 3-point FG: Wells 2, Rock 2.