Nia Coffey took over in the second half, scoring 12 of her game-high 18 points to lead Hopkins to a 51-29 Class 4A quarterfinal victory Wednesday over Lakeville North at Target Center.

After the Panthers opened the second on a 5-0 run to tie the top-seeded Royals 17-17, Coffey, a junior, scored the first five points of the half for Hopkins. It led to an eventual 13-2 run that blew the game open for the defending big school state champs.

Nia Coffey was also big on defense for the Royals, swatting seven blocks.

The low-scoring first half – just 29 combined points – was the product of both teams holding the ball to get desired matchups. Hopkins held for the final 45 seconds of the first half.

Nia Coffey, Hopkins
Held to just six points in the first half, Coffey would match the Lakeville North girls almost point for point by herself through the second. Her ability to block shots kept Lakeville North from getting any rhythm during the game.