GARY, Ind. – Jessica Carrothers hit a midcourt shot to send the game into overtime and
Makayla Best sank the game-winning free throws to give the Indiana University Northwest women's basketball team a nail biting 78-77 CCAC win over Holy Cross Saturday afternoon.
During first quarter play
Tiara Jackson went to the charity stripe and nailed both shots to put the RedHawks up by one (9-8). That was a lead IUN would hold on to until early in the fourth quarter. IUN would go up by as much as 12 following a pair of Best free throws late in the third frame.
Then after HCC got its deficit down to one with a 1:12 remaining in the third
Samantha Martin scored on back-to-back baskets to give the RedHawks a five-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
Over the final six minutes the teams would trade baskets with neither side holding a lead larger than three.
With five seconds left, Carrothers, who was trying to tie game at 64 missed on a layup forcing IUN to foul. The Saints would miss both free throws but grabbed the offensive board forcing the RedHawks to foul again with three ticks remaining.
Grace Adams missed the first but hit the second giving IUN a chance to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Alyna Santiago inbounded the ball finding Carrothers streaking up the sideline and nailed the tying shot at the buzzer.
In the extra session,
Katelyn Halfacre put the RedHawks up by five (72-67), but HCC used a 10-4 run take a 77-76 advantage with 35 seconds remaining. Then with just 22 seconds left the Saints fouled Best to set up the potential game-winning points.
Best was able to sink both free throws and the defense kept HCC from getting a good look at the basket and hang on for the win.
IUN returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 16 when it travels to Saint Xavier for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
