Mary Edges SMSU in Overtime

Box Score

MARSHALL, MINN.: Anna Skala hit two free throws with 0.7 seconds left in overtime to send Mary to a 69-67 win over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night. The Mustangs drop to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the NSIC, while Mary improves to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC. SMSU's Liz Grider was called for a foul away from the ball to send Skala to the line after running into a screen. Mary defenders then deflected the inbounds pass following the free throws to seal the victory.

Grider led the Mustangs with 15 points. Abby Oakland hit 3-of-3 three-point attempts and had 13 points as well, to go with four assists. Sara Leidall scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds.

SMSU trailed 26-25 at halftime, but jumped out to a 10-point lead in the second half with 15:50 remaining after an 11-0 run to start the half. The Mustangs led by seven with 6:47 to play, but the Marauders went on a 7-0 over the next 52 seconds to tie the game. Mary had a two-point lead with just over a minute left, but Grider drove to the basket and drew a foul and hit both free throws to tie the score at 60-60 with 1:01 left in the second half. Heidi Kimmes blocked a shot with two seconds left, forcing a shot clock violation on the Marauders, but Megan Wittkop's desperation shot rimmed out sending the game to overtime.

In the extra period, Mary started by hitting two consecutive baskets including a three-pointer, sandwiched around a layup by Megan Stadler, to take a 65-62 lead with 3:58 left. Wittkop buried a three-pointer with 2:40 left to tie the score at 65. After a basket by Mary's Liz Sipma, Liz Grider answered with a jumper from the free throw line to tie the game at 67-67 with 17 seconds left. That set up the foul on Grider and free throws by Sipma to win the game for Mary.

The Mustangs travel to South Dakota on Dec. 15 for a 4 p.m. game.

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