The Northwestern Lehigh girls basketball team opened 2026 with a pair of losses but have turned things around with four straight wins by a combined score of 229-78.

The wins have helped Northwestern to clinch a spot in districts and have them currently seeded second in the Colonial League as the season heads into the home stretch with just six regular season games remaining.

Sophomore Natalie Conner averaged 22 points per game in the four wins, including 27 in a 60-29 win over Salisbury. Her 17 points against Jim Thorpe Tuesday n puts her at 800 career points.

Northwestern beat the Olympians 63-19 with Olivia Reinhart scoring 11 points.

Conner scored 25 points against Palisades with seven three-pointers in a 53-13 win over the Lady Pirates.

Northwestern has a number of shooters who can hit from beyond the arc and set a season high with 11 three-pointers in the win at Palisades. In addition to Conner’s shooting, Emma Freeman hit three three-pointers and freshman Lillian Bernhard hit one. The Tigers have hit on 108 three-pointers this season.

The Tigers will face their toughest challenge of the season Friday night when they head to Lehighton to take on the undefeated Indians, who are 14-0 overall and 12-0 in the Colonial League.

Northwestern (13-3 overall, 11-2 Colonial) and Lehighton appear to be on a collision course both in the league and District 11 playoffs. The Indians and Tigers have clinched district playoff spots along with Palmerton and North Schuylkill.

In the Colonial League standings, Northwestern trails Lehighton by 1 ½ games in the West Division. Lehighton stands as the top team in the league with Notre Dame – Green Pond in second just ahead of Northwestern. Notre Dame defeated Northwestern earlier this season and Lehighton defeated Notre Dame (Green Pond) in the season opener back in early December.

In addition to meeting Lehighton Friday night, the two teams will play at Northwestern a week later.