The Skippers opened the game on an 8-1 run. Junior guard/forward Tootie Lewis averaged six points per game going in, but had 14 of a team-high 16 points in the first half with points in the paint and beyond the arc on two three-pointers.

Eden Prairie was held without a field goal for the first five minutes of the game until senior forward Nia Holloway hit a fall-away jumper. She had a game-high 21 points, including what proved to be the game-winning basket on a turnaround in the paint with a minute to play.

Minnetonka led for much of the first half before Eden Prairie found ways to get to the foul line and pull ahead before halftime

The Skippers ended the half strong and used a Grace Hamdorf three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the deficit to 32-30.

Eden Prairie’s deficit grew to seven out of the half before Minnetonka mounted a 9-0 run. Back-and-forth action ensued with freshman forward Aaliyah Crump’s versatile game producing 15 points and nine in the second half.

Minnetonka senior guard Desiree Ware battled first-half foul trouble and had one point. She scored seven in the second half.

After Holloway’s basket put Eden Prairie ahead 65-63, the Eagles got a defensive stop but lost possession on a jump ball.

Holloway came up with a steal on a pass near half court. The future Golden Gopher drove in for a layup and was fouled. One of two foul shots ensured no worse than overtime.

“I think that really shows our spirit and our drive that we can play right to the very end," Holloway said. "You never know when you’re going to need that one steal."

Ware got off a potential game-tying three in the closing seconds that bounced off the rim out of bounds. Eden Prairie inbounded with 3.4 seconds left and with Minnetonka only having five team fouls.

Needing a steal without time to foul twice, the Skippers just got that. A deflection fell into Ware’s hands and she got up a heave from the left corner. An Eden Prairie defender blocked the shot to seal the victory.

“I thought we played well throughout,” Wiese said. “We hit kind of a block where we gave up a little run, but we kept our composure. We made the plays we had to to win, that’s all there is to it.”

Wiese credited Holloway's unselfishness for allowing her fellow Division-I prospect teammates to shine.

Senior guard Myra Moorjani had 14 points. Senior guard Molly Lenz added 13 points.

Holloway’s 21 points were efficient and within the flow of the game.

“She’s one of the most unselfish great players,” Wiese said. “We never play the clear-it-out, let-Nia-do-everything [game]. We just keep playing team ball.”

The Eagles are 9-0 on the road and move into second place in the Lake Conference.

It was also a pivotal win for Class 4A, Section 2 seeding. Entering the day, the QRF rankings for the top section teams had Minnetonka at No. 2 followed by No. 4 Chaska, No. 6 Eden Prairie and No. 9 Shakopee.

Eden Prairie lost to Chaska, will host Minnetonka on Feb. 12 and does not play Shakopee.

Holloway and company were thankful to get a key win against a team that beat them all three times a season ago.

"They’re a really talented team and they’ve always given us trouble in the past," Holloway said. "We know whenever we play them that it’s going to be a good game. It was skill versus skill. They have a lot of high-caliber athletes, but so do we."