MANKATO, Minn. – One overtime was not enough for Winona State University and Minnesota State Mankato to decide a winner on Friday night, as the Warriors needed a second extra period to outlast the Mavericks on their home court, 79-69.
Senior Kayla Schaefer knocked down WSU's lone basket in the first overtime to send the teams into another frame where the Warriors easily pushed past the Mavericks for their second straight win. Schaefer led all players with 19 points.
Mankato erased a 12-point Winona State lead in the fourth quarter to force the extra periods. The teams played a back-and-forth first half that went into the break with a 28-28 tie on the scoreboard. The Warriors used a 13-3 run in the third quarter to take a double-digit lead into the fourth before the home team stormed back.
A bucket by Schaefer broke a 36-all tie midway through the third and spark Winona State's run in the frame. Four different players scored during the stretch for WSU, including four points from Taylor Hustad and a three-pointer by Allie Pickrain.
It was then halfway through the fourth quarter that Mankato got hot and went on a run to slash the Warrior lead. The Mavericks outscored WSU in the final six minutes of regulation, 18-7, and led by a 63-61 count with six seconds remaining on the clock. Gabie Doud, who had missed the previous five games for Winona State, stepped up with the game-tying layup on the other end of the court to send the teams into overtime.
After an offensive flurry to close the fourth quarter, both teams went cold in the first overtime, combining for just four points on one field goal each. Schaefer's layup came with 1:51 left on the clock and neither side scored after from there.
The Warriors led wire-to-wire in the second overtime with Doud knocking down a big three-pointer to open the frame. Julia Silloway also provided WSU a clutch basket before she, Pickrain, Doud and Emily Kieck sealed the road victory at the free throw line.
Schaefer, Pickrain, Doud and Kieck each finished the game with double digits in the scoring column while Rachel Novotny pulled down 11 rebounds for the second straight contest.
WSU forced 17 Mankato turnovers in the tilt which led to 21 points offensively for the Warriors.
Winona State improves to 5-3 (3-1 NSIC) in the triumph while Minnesota State falls to 4-4 (1-3 NSIC).
The Warriors conclude their weekend road trip with a 3:30 p.m. tip at Concordia, St. Paul on Saturday.
