MARSHALL, Minn. - 40 minutes of regulation, plus an additional five minutes of overtime weren't enough to determine the winner of the game between the University of Mary Women's Basketball team and Southwest Minnesota State University this evening.
 
The Marauders (7-4, 1-2 NSIC) found their first conference win of the season as they fought back from a 10-point deficit in the third quarter to tie the game up and send it into overtime against the Mustangs (1-8, 0-4 NSIC). U-Mary got three free throws from Brittney Dietz to force a second overtime, and Rachel Weir provided a dagger three in what would be the final period to clinch the 80-77 win in favor of the visitors.
 
U-Mary held a 12-6 lead at the 6:35 mark of the first quarter as Dani Williams recorded a perimeter shot along with a free throw, Dani Clarke added a three-pointer of her own, Dietz sunk two shots from the charity stripe, and Weir notched a layup to kick start the offense. The Mustangs closed the gap to three at 20-17 with 36 seconds remaining, but the layup from Dietz provided a cushion at 22-17 heading into the second quarter.
 
Southwest Minnesota State cut the lead down to one at 22-21 in the first two minutes of the frame, but the Marauders kept the pace up with five fast points to re-extend their advantage to 27-21 at the 7:42 mark. The Mustangs tied the game up at 29-29 from an 8-2 run with 3:53 to go in the half, but a 9-3 Marauder response ensured the lead would remain in their favor with 1:32 left. Southwest Minnesota State would have the last laugh, however, as they scored the last four points of the half the reduced U-Mary's lead to 38-36 at the break.
 
In unconventional fashion, the Marauders' offense stalled at the start of the third quarter as the Mustangs opened up the period on a 12-1 run lasting until the 4:50 mark with U-Mary missing their first 10 shots of the quarter. Dietz and Hannah Larson appeared to have the issues resolved on offense as they both recorded a layup, but Southwest Minnesota State notched the next five points for their biggest lead of the night at 53-43 with 1:47 left in the quarter.
 
Clarke added a quick three-pointer at the 1:30 mark, and Hayley Niles sunk the layup, but the Mustangs had the last word in the quarter with a layup of their own to hold on to the 55-48 lead going into the fourth quarter.
 
Southwest Minnesota State held a 62-55 cushion with 6:05 to play in the game, but Clarke provided her first clutch three of the night at 3:38 after four combined miss shots, followed by a Dietz layup after another scoring drought, to cut the lead down to 62-60 with 1:32 to play.
 
After two free throws from the Mustangs, Dietz nailed another layup while Clarke sunk another clutch three to tie the game with 18 seconds remaining. Southwest Minnesota State had a chance for the final shot but turned the ball over with four seconds left to give U-Mary a chance to close it out. Dietz got the call but her layup attempt was just off-target and the game went into overtime.
 
Dietz bounced back with a layup to start overtime, but the Mustangs responded almost immediately with a layup of their own to keep the score tied at 67-67. After a made free throw and another layup, Southwest Minnesota held the 70-67 lead with 1:32 left in the period. it was Dietz's time to shine as she was fouled at the 1:07 mark on a shot attempt, missed the first free throw, but made the second to put the score at 70-68.
 
Weir took her time in the spotlight as she swatted a shot from Annessa Rosch and grabbed the loose ball before U-Mary called the timeout. Dietz had another opportunity at the line as she was fouled yet again on a shot attempt and sunk both chances to know the score at 70-70. Southwest Minnesota State missed the go-ahead shot with 16 seconds left and the Marauders couldn't respond as they missed a three-pointer at the buzzer to go into the second overtime.
 
Both teams traded shots to begin the second overtime with the Marauders holding a 75-74 lead at the 3:28 mark, and Weir sunk her dagger three with 2:34 to go that gave U-Mary a 78-74 lead to put Southwest Minnesota State on the brink.
 
The Mustangs got one free throw at 1:34 followed by another with 38 seconds on the clock, but were forced to foul after Haley Hibbs stole the ball with 15 ticks left. Hibbs nailed both free throws and a desperation three failed to connect with three seconds left and the Marauders held on for a 80-77 double overtime win.
 
Brittney Dietz continued her torrid scoring pace with 26 points on 9-for-22 shooting from the field, including an 8-for-13 mark from the charity stripe. She also added eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 48 minutes on the court.
 
Dani Clarke provided the perimeter threat as she nailed 5-of-11 three-pointers, along with two free throws, for 17 points in 39 minutes; she also grabbed six rebounds and four steals in the game.
 
Dani Williams recorded the first double-double of her career with 11 points and 12 rebounds in 43 minutes, to go with two assists, one block and one steal.
 
Hannah Larson had another good day with five points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and two steals in 34 minutes played.
 
Haley Hibbs provided the spark off the bench with eight points and four rebounds; Hayley Niles added 4 points and two steals; and Isabel Schmelzer provided the post presence with six rebounds and one block.
 
The Marauders will take on the University of Sioux Falls tomorrow afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D., starting at 4:00 PM CDT.
 
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