BANGOR, Maine — Showing an ability to convert from the free throw line when it mattered most, No. 4 Winslow bested No. 5 Ellsworth 51-44 Saturday morning in a Class B North quarterfinal matchup at the Cross Insurance Center.

The Black Raiders sank 20 of 28 (71 percent) free throws, including eight of 11 in the fourth quarter, and managed to hold off a late flurry from Ellsworth for the victory.

Winslow plays No. 1 Houlton on Wednesday at 3:35 p.m. in the semifinals.

Winslow junior Heather Kervin led her team with 14 points, three rebounds and a steal. Freshman Paige Trask chipped in 10 points, while senior Delaney Wood and freshman Weslee Littlefield both added seven.

“It feels really good knowing that we have gotten over that hump of coming here and not winning,” Kervin said. “My freshman year, we lost our prelim at home to Waterville. Last year, we got here and lost to Presque Isle in the quarterfinals. So this feels really good.”

Kervin said the big difference in the game was defense and free throw shooting.

“I know you hear that over and over, but defense and foul shots were the difference for us today,” she said.

Winslow coach Lindsey Withee echoed those sentiments.

“We have played in a number of close games this year, and the difference has been our free throw shooting,” she said. “We practice foul shots daily, and they executed perfectly.”

Ellsworth senior Madison Card led all players with 18 points and two rebounds, while senior Kate Whitney added nine points, five rebounds and a steal.

“We couldn’t seem to get over that hump,” Ellsworth coach Andy Pooler said. “We would make a little run, and cut the lead to two or three, and then they [Winslow] would answer with a big three. We didn’t execute the end of the game situation very well, but I give all the credit to Winslow. They executed.”

Neither team was able to gain a great deal of scoring momentum. The game featured seven lead changes, all coming in the first half. The biggest lead for Winslow was just seven points, which came late in the fourth quarter.

Ellsworth cut the lead to one (38-37) with 4:21 to play, but that proved to be as close as the Eagles would get as Winslow used a 13-7 run to close out the game. In that run, Winslow freshman Paige Trask hit a 3-pointer, Wood was a perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line and junior Ciara LeClair converted a layup.

“Delaney has done a great job for us as a captain leader, and has proven to be able to knock down free throws down the stretch,” coach Withee said.