Led by 25 points from sophomore point guard Andreanna Thomas and 24 from freshman Bria Holmes, the No. 7 Academics survived a late scare from No. 3 Avon and advanced to the Class L championship with a 75-70 win tonight.
Hillhouse will face top-seeded Fairfield Warde, which knocked off No. 4 Wethersfield tonight 68-57.
No. 2 Old Lyme edged No. 3 Capital Prep 44-42 to clinch a Class S state championship berth. The Wildcats will take on N0. 13 Coventry, which beat top-seeded Wamogo 43-41.