NU’s Kia Gibson scored what appeared to be the winning basket in the first overtime with .8 seconds remaining, but Northwest was levied a technical foul for bench personnel coming onto the floor before time expired. Eastern’s Kelsea Hurliman calmly went to the line and made both free throws to tie the game at 78-78 sending the game into the second overtime. In the extra period it was all Eastern Oregon as they outscored the Eagles 13-7 to come away with the victory.

 

The game was tight throughout with 10 ties and 15 lead changes. Northwest jumped out to an early first half lead, 8-5, but EOU would then score 14 unanswered points to lead, 19-8, ten minutes into the contest punctuated by a Kyle Miller 3-pointer. With EOU leading 23-14 at the 6:34 mark, Northwest would go on a 7-0 run to pull to within two (23-21) after a Brittney Marshall 3-pointer from the corner with 5 minutes to go. Domi Mendezona would make it a one point game, 25-24 with 3:31 on the clock and Brittney Marshall would tie the score with her free throw at 25-all 18 seconds later. EOU’s Shaylee Nielsen would put Eastern back into the lead, 28-25, with her trey, but a jumper by Jessalyn Jackson and a layup by Emily Drivstuen would give NU the lead 29-28 at the 1:17 mark. Neilsen would drain another 3-pointer with 36 seconds to go to give EOU a narrow, 31-29 lead at the half.

 

The second half would swing back and forth the first four minutes but then Northwest would pull away to a 6 point lead, 41-35, after two free throws with 15:11 on the clock. The Eagles would hold onto the lead until Vintea Georges would put EOU back on top, 44-42 with her jumper with 11:59 remaining. NU would again build a 6 point lead (54-48) after an offensive tip in by Jessalyn Jackson, a 3-pointer by Emily Drivstuen and a driving layup by Marielle McKean with 8:34 to go. Northwest’s lead would grow to 14 points, 65-51, on a Drivstuen trey with 5:39 remaining, but EOU would begin chipping away at the NU lead and go on an12-0 run to pull to within two, 65-63 with 2:31 on the clock. EOU would rebound a missed NU 3-point attempt and would tie the score at 65-65 on Vintea Georges’ tip in of a Kyle Miller miss with 46 seconds to go in regulation. Neither team would score as time would expire sending the game into the first overtime.

 

In the first overtime, EOU would outscore Northwest 7-2 to take a seven point lead (74-67) with 2:20 left on the clock. NU would then outscore EOU 7-1 to make it 75-74, with 1:10 to go. NU would foul and Samantha Flett would make one of two free throws to give the Mounties a 76-74 lead with 51 seconds on the clock. Jessalyn Jackson would put in a missed shot with 39 seconds to go to know the score at 76-all. Following an EOU timeout, NU would force a turnover with 4 seconds to go setting up the final play at mid court. EOU would be caught switching on defense and Erika Hornyak would lob her pass to Kia Gibson under the basket who would put in the contested layup with .8 seconds showing on the clock. Following the two technical free throws and with a 78-78 tie, the game would go into the second OT period.

 

After an 82-82 tie with 3:26 left on the clock in the second OT, Eastern Oregon would outscore the Eagles 5-0 as NU shots could not find their mark and EOU’s Rosebud Guthrie with score a layup and two Mounties would hit 3 of 4 free throws for an 88-82 lead with 18 seconds to go to take the lead. Eastern would then make 3 of four free throws to clinch the victory.

 

Brittney Marshall (Snohomish, Wash.) and Jessalyn Jackson (Vancouver, Wash.) led Northwest (18-8, 12-5 CCC) with 20 points each. Jackson added 14 rebounds for the double-double and Emily Drivstuen (Monroe, Wash.) added 12 points for the Eagles.

 

Kyle Miller led Eastern Oregon (17-9, 9-8 CCC) with a game high 21 points. Vintea Georges added 18 points and 8 rebounds while Samantha Flett scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Mountaineers. EOU also held the edge in rebounding, 55-54.