This is turning out to be quite a season for Marion girls basketball.

The Indians won their first WaMac Conference championship in 33 years, reached the state tournament for the first time and now they're headed for the semifinals.

No. 11 Marion got 15 points from Morgan Paige and used a big edge at the free throw line to beat No. 13 Spencer 47-31 in a first-round Class 3A game.

Jacqueline Kane added 14 points for Marion (21-2) and Sam Rinehart scored 10. Rinehart also had five of Marion's 14 steals.

The Marion players got themselves to the free throw line by taking the ball aggressively to the basket and capitalized with some sharp shooting. The Indians made 21 of 25 free throws. Spencer went 2-for-9 at the line.

Krista DeGeest led Spencer with eight points and blocked four shots. Emily Wassom scored seven points for the Indians, while Brittany Peterson had four points, five assists and three steals.

Spencer was in the state tournament for the third time and finishes 21-5.

Marion led 10-9 after one quarter, then began the second quarter with a 12-2 run to take control. It was 26-15 at halftime and Marion stayed ahead by at least 10 the rest of the way.

Marion will play in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.