Finlandia University forward Mariah Austin drives for a layup as Viterbo University’s Madison Doerr defends on Wednesday in Hancock. Finlandia won 56-55. (Paul Peterson/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — When Harlee Froberg was playing basketball at Houghton High School, one of the things drummed into her by HHS coach Julie Filpus was to concentrate on her free throws.

Now a sophomore at Finlandia University, Froberg made two of the biggest ones of her career Wednesday evening in a game against Viterbo University.

Froberg netted two charity tosses with 6.9 seconds to play to give her team a 56-55 win.

“We shoot free throws every single day,” Lions’ coach Mariah LaPointe-Dunham said afterward. “That was why it was important for Harlee to step up there with the game on the line tonight,” LaPointe-Dunham said. “It was also important for her confidence. This year, we’ve used her in a different role and it has cut back on her playing time.”

Froberg, whose cousin Bailey is also a key member of the team, also came up with a big defensive play in the waning moments to give her team its final possession.

She was fouled on her way to basket and calmly sank the charities that lifted the Lions to 4-7 on the season.

Finlandia had to dig deep in the final half after falling behind by nine points early on.

A point drought that lasted nearly eight minutes in the second perod enabled the V-Hawks to go up 37-30 margin at intermission.

But the locals fought back behind the play of sophomore center Katie Lundeen, who totaled 17 points in the game at Paavo Nurmi Gym.

“We had to get Katie (Lundeen) involved in the second half to have a chance to win,” LaPointe-Dunham said. “She’s too big a part of our game plan not to.”

Carsyn Osterman (Baraga) also made some big plays down the stretch in the rally. She scored seven points in all.

“I love that fight … because we hadn’t been in that position before (this season) to come back,” LaPointe-Dunham said. “It showed that we have the fight and the will to win.”

Lundeen had a big game with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds. Bailey Froberg added 11 more — nine in the first quarter when she made three treys.

Harlee Froberg added seven points, four rebounds and three assists in a solid showing.

Osterman grabbed seven rebounds top go with her seven points. Mariah Austin netted six markers and also played well on defense.

Viterbo was paced by Alyssa Nillsen with 13 points and 8 boards.

Finlandia will host UW-River Falls at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Viterbo 19 18 11 7 — 55

Finlandia 25 5 12 14 — 56

VITERBO (55): Niilsen 13, Schlosser 6, Burgess 2, Doerr 8, Breedlove 4, Wojtsiak 4, Leguazamon 7, Leinfelder 6, Kennedy 3, Bozich 2. FG: 19-59. FT: 13-15. Rebounds: Wojtsiak 9. Fouls: 18. 3-point FG: Leinfelder 2, Leguazamon 1, Doerr 1.

FINLANDIA (56): Pertile 2, H. Froberg 7, Lundeen 17, Austin 6, B. Froberg 11, Osterman 7, Loman 3, Berg 3. FG: 17-56. FT: 14-20. Rebounds: 39 (Lundeen 15). Fouls: 14. 3-point FG: B. Froberg 3, Loman 1, Berg 1, H. Froberg 1, Osterman 1, Austin 1.