After Northwestern's girls basketball team defeated Southern Lehigh for the 2013-14 Colonial League girls basketball championship, it was senior Trista Cunningham and classmates Erynn Day and Kylee Bennett that carried and presented the trophy to the rest of the Lady Tigers Saturday night at Freedom High School.

Cunningham had already done plenty of heavy lifting during the game.

The 5-foot-9 Cunningham registered 12 points, all of which came in the second half, to carry Northwestern past three-time defending champ Southern Lehigh and to its first league title since 2007.

"I thought Trista Cunningham took over in that second half and she showed what being a senior leader is all about," Northwestern head coach Chris Deutsch said.

After Southern Lehigh whittled away its deficit late in the second half, Cunningham went 6-for-9 from the free throw line, converting five straight foul shots at one point, to stave off any Lady Spartan comeback threat.

She also grabbed seven rebounds in the contest, battling in the paint, which she has done all year as an undersized center.

"It definitely is rough," Cunningham said of fighting for rebounds. "I have a couple of bruises from this season. This part of the season is when it gets really rough, but it isn't too bad."

To ease her pain a bit, Cunningham saw that her bruises were worth it as last week it was announced that she was a unanimous selection to the Colonial League girls' team for the Via All-Star Basketball Classic. A few days later, she was named First Team All-League in the Colonial League.

The two-sport student-athlete talked about being chosen to play in the 39th annual Via All-Star Classic

"This is something that I could only have dreamed of," could only have dreamed of,"she said clutching the Colonial League trophy. "I honestly was very surprised that it was unanimous. I couldn't thank any of the coaches enough for voting for me and I am just honored to be in it."

Cunningham may be one of the shortest in the paint, but she makes a big impact, and it is being noticed around the Lehigh Valley.