QUINCY, Ill. – Winona State University overcame a halftime deficit and led with seconds left to play in regulation on Saturday evening only to see Truman State beat the buzzer in the fourth quarter and prevail with a 59-56 overtime win over the Warriors.
WSU trailed by as many 10 points in the opening period and trailed 26-24 at the break before finally pulling in front in the third quarter of action. Gabie Doud hit a pair of clutch free throws for the Warriors with three seconds remaining before the Bulldogs were able to knot the score with a layup and force overtime.
Truman State led wire-to-wire in the extra frame as Winona State shot just 1-9 from the floor with Julia Silloway accounting for the lone basket from beyond the arc.
The Warriors had trouble holding onto the ball in the first quarter, committing eight turnovers leading to nine points by the Bulldogs. Truman sustained a 14-4 lead late in the first, but a three by Allie Pickrain and a jumper by Alyssa Jurges cut the Bulldog lead to 14-9 before the end of the quarter.
WSU battled in the second to slash the Truman lead to just one basket before half. Doud sparked a brief 6-1 run for the Warriors in the middle of the quarter, diminishing the Bulldog lead to two. Emily Kieck knocked down a three in transition with just over a minute left in the half, bringing WSU within one. Truman added a couple more buckets before the break, but Kieck brought the Warriors back to within two, knocking down two free throws as Winona State went into the locker room trailing 26-24.
The Warriors and Bulldogs battled back-and-forth through the remainder of the game exchanging the lead five times. WSU built a four-point lead early in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Doud, but the Warriors were unable to hold on in the end.
Doud was Winona State's offensive leader with 17 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Rachel Novotny led the way with 10 rebounds and added a pair of blocks to her stat line.
Pickrain was named to the Subway Classic All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the contest.
The Warriors fall to 1-1 on the young season while Truman State improves to 5-0.
Winona State returns to the hardwood next Friday, November 23 as the Warriors travel West to Colorado for two games over Thanksgiving break.
