Box Score Bismarck, ND—It took a steal by Linda Murray at the end of regulation to force overtime for the University of Mary women's basketball team (10-6, 8-5 NSIC) to not repeat history. Losing on a buzzer beater at home last year against Bemidji State (8-9, 4-5), Murray's steal ensured a different outcome as U-Mary held on for an 89-83 double overtime win.
 
Brittney Dietz paved the way for the Marauders with a career-high 30 points to go with four rebounds, five assists and two steals. Going 11-of-14 from the line, Dietz went 10-of-11 during the overtime periods.
 
One of four players with 15 or more points, Morgan Lee led the Beavers with 24, including a 9-of-10 effort from the free-throw line.
 
Down 14-11 midway through the opening half, U-Mary erupted for a 21-4 run to take a 14-point lead with two minutes left until half. Led by Dietz's two three-point field goals, five different players scored during the run. BSU hit a pair of free throws to end the half as U-Mary went into intermission leading 32-30.
 
The Marauders defense stifled the Beavers in the first half forcing 11 turnovers on seven steals that led to 10 U-Mary points. The Marauders held a 42 to 28 percent shooting edge in the opening half, but were outrebounded 21-18.
 
After U-Mary opened with scores on back-to-back possessions in the second half, BSU responded with a 13-1 run to pull within four. Bemidji State was able to climb back into the game as it picked up the defensive intensity by trapping U-Mary's ball handlers. Their efforts paid off as the Beavers forced seven Marauders turnovers during the six-minute stretch.
 
With U-Mary leading by six with 4:42 to play, BSU scored six straight points to tie game at 54-54.  With the offense struggling, senior Lindsey Sand took things into her own hands as she scored back-to-back lay-ups driving to her left. The baskets gave the Marauders a four-point lead with 1:38 left to play.
 
However, on the ensuing possession by the Beavers, Sand committed her fifth foul ending her night.
 
A shot clock violation by U-Mary and a BSU steal gave the Beavers back-to-back lay-ups to tie the game a 60-60. The Marauders had possession with 29 seconds remaining, but a turnover with five second left gave the Beavers a chance to repeat history and steal a win.
 
Playing centerfield on the play, Murray read the deep inbound pass as she came away with a steal to force overtime.
 
The second half was evenly matched in many ways, but BSU took control by holding a 22-12 advantage in the paint and a 12-3 edge in second chance points.
 
With Sand out, it was up to true freshman Taylor Henningsgard to run the point for U-Mary in overtime. With the Marauders trailing by four with just 15 seconds remaining, Henningsgard found McKenzie Foster for three to pull U-Mary within one with just eight second remaining.
 
With BSU making one of two free throws, Dietz secured the rebound and dribbled coast-to-coast drawing a foul with one second remaining. Dietz calmly knocked down both free throws, sending the game into double overtime.
 
U-Mary took that momentum into the second overtime jumping out to a six-point lead sparked by two lay-ups from Murray. With the Marauders up five with 48 seconds remaining, BSU's Lee came down and hit an improbable three with a defender in her face to pull within two with 34 seconds to play.
 
Dietz took over from there though, as she went 8-of-8 from the line in the final 32 seconds to seal an 89-83 win for the Marauders.
 
Murray was a force inside for U-Mary grabbing 14 rebounds, six of which were offensive, to go with 16 points. Sand and Foster each added 13 points. Foster also had a game-high six assists.
 
For the game the Marauders had a 44 to 39 percent advantage shooting the ball, but were outrebounded 48 to 46. Both teams were identical scoring in the paint at 44 and off of turnovers at 18. U-Mary held a distinct advantage from deep going 7-of-21 to BSU's 2-of-8.
 
The win extends the Marauders winning streak to five, their longest since 2011-12. U-Mary will be back in action Saturday evening as it hosts Minnesota Crookston at 4 p.m. at the McDowell Activity Center.
 
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