Helias knew who it needed to key on coming into Tuesday's game against Hickman.
But Danni Nichols and Ny'jah White proved to be too much.
The duo combined for 39 points as Hickman topped Helias 58-46 in the semifinals of the State Farm Holiday Hoops Invitational at Rackers Fieldhouse in Jefferson City.
Helias (5-2) will take on Jefferson City in today's third-place game at 5:30 p.m. Hickman will play St. Joseph Benton at 7 p.m. for the championship.
The Kewpies led before any time went off the clock (thanks to a technical foul due to a problem with the Helias scorebook) and were in control throughout, jumping out to a 32-20 halftime lead.
White and Nichols were a big reason why, scoring all but three of the team's points in the second half. They had all 17 of Hickman's fourth-quarter points.
White finished with 18 points while Nichols had a game-high 21. Nichols hit 13-of-16 free throws and scored 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Hickman shot 61 percent from the field, including 68 percent from inside the arc. Every time Helias seemed to rally, White or Nichols had an answer.
"Their offense is just really talented," Helias head coach Sarah Eagan said. "They are good from inside and out. Once you pack in the middle, you've got to look to the outside."
Helias, which trailed by as many as 13 in the second half, rallied late in the third quarter.
White picked up her fourth foul with with just more than a minute left in the third quarter. The Lady Crusaders took advantage and cut the lead to 42-38. But a quick 6-0 spurt put Hickman back in control. Hickman made 11 free throws in the fourth quarter to ice the game. Helias trailed by six with 1:02 left after a pair of Lauren Alexander free throws, but Nichols iced the game with four free throws and a layup.
"In the second half when we fought back, we just sent them the foul line and they knocked down their free throws," Eagan said.
Alexander led the Lady Crusaders with 16 points, including eight points in the fourth quarter. She had 13 in Monday night's victory against Blue Springs South. Luci Francka also was in double figures for Helias with 11.
Hickman's 2-3 zone forced Helias to settle for more jump shots, something that didn't surprise Eagan. The Lady Crusaders shot 45 percent from the field.
"We kind of expected that," Eagan said of Hickman's defense. "The last few games we've seen a lot of 2-3 zone because we've struggled with shooting from the outside. We've been practicing, that, working on that."
Kelsey Mirts was also in double figures for Hickman, finishing with 12 points. Helias shot 45 percent for the game.
Helias will try and bounce back tonight against Jefferson City. It's the first meeting between the Lady Jays and Lady Crusaders this season. The two teams will meet in the regular season on Jan. 25 at Fleming Fieldhouse.
"They are strong five deep," Eagan said of the Lady Jays. "Going to go home and watch film and come back tomorrow."