The University of Mary Marauders

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Looking to avoid their second straight overtime game, the University of Mary Women's Basketball team visited the University of Sioux Falls this afternoon to round out the first road weekend of the NSIC schedule.
 
The Marauders (7-5, 1-3 NSIC) held a four-point advantage late in the fourth quarter, but a handful of costly turnovers in the last two minutes doomed U-Mary's chances as the Cougars (10-1, 4-1 NSIC) took the game from the free throw line in a close 69-67 decision in favor of the home team.
 
The teams traded baskets back-and-forth throughout the first quarter with neither owning a lead greater than four points as Sioux Falls made the first two free throws of the game while Brittney Dietz responded immediately with a three-pointer. A total of six lead changes punctuated the opening quarter and the Cougars would hold the narrow lead at 15-14 heading into the second frame.
 
The start of the second quarter looked just like the first as U-Mary and Sioux Falls exchanged shots one right after another, but the Cougars started to pull away at the 6:47 mark after a layup, a Marauder turnover, and a three-pointer threatened to take the wind out of U-Mary's sails with a 25-21 advantage favoring Sioux Falls.
 
The Marauders would not be dissuaded so easily as they rallied off nine unanswered points thanks to four free throws from Dietz, a perimeter shot from Hannah Larson, and a layup from Dani Clarke that swung the score back into U-Mary's hands at 30-25 with 4:48 remaining. The game fell back into a familiar rhythm as Sioux Falls retook the lead at 36-35 with less than a minute remaining, but Dietz had the last say in the half as she nailed the running layup to give U-Mary the slight edge at 37-36 heading into the break.
 
Both offenses appeared to hit a rut in the third quarter as the Dani Williams hit the fastbreak layup to begin the quarter, but a scoring drought plagued the teams as they missed their next nine shots through the following three minutes of action. Larson eventually snapped the skid as she made both of her free throws at the 6:46 mark to kick off a 9-1 run followed by two Rachel Weir layups, and a three-pointer from Williams that gave the Marauders a 48-37 advantage with 5:22 remaining in the quarter.
 
Yet the give-and-take didn't stop as the Cougars responded with a 13-2 run highlighted by three shots from beyond the arc to knot the score at 50-50 with 47 seconds to go in the frame. Larson and Haley Hibbs ensured U-Mary would hold onto the lead going into the fourth as they both made two free throws apiece for a 54-50 cushion with 10 minutes of game time remaining.
 
Sioux Falls guaranteed U-Mary would not run away with the game as they notched the first five points of the fourth quarter to take the lead away at 55-54. Of course the score exchanged hand thrice more in the quarter with the Marauders clinging to a 64-63 lead after two Cougar free throws closed the gap to one point with 2:55 to go.
 
The critical moment of the game came in the final two and a half minutes as Dietz made the running layup and sunk the ensuing free throw to complete the classic three-point play after she was fouled to put the Marauders ahead at 67-63 with 2:10 remaining. The Cougars recorded a layup in the next possession and eventually fouled Dietz again with 1:24 left on the game clock.
 
Unfortunately, both of Dietz's free throws were off the mark to leave the score at 67-65 and Sioux Falls tied the score once again with two free throws of their own at the 1:22 mark. The Cougars forced a turnover on the Marauders' next possession thanks to a steal from Sam Knecht but the missed layup was brought down by Clarke at the 47 second mark and U-Mary took a reprieve with a quick timeout.
 
Dietz was given the ball again in an effort to put U-Mary back on top, but her missed layup was brought down by Knecht and the Cougars eventually drew a foul with six ticks on the clock that sent Taylor Varsho to the charity stripe.
 
Varsho made the first but missed the second free throw and the defensive rebound was snagged by Dietz followed by U-Mary's last timeout to take a moment and draw up one final play to give the Marauders the win. In another unfortunate turn of events, the inbound pass was stolen by Varsho and a desperation foul wouldn't save the day as she made the first free throw and missed the second to send U-Mary back to Bismarck on the heels of a 69-67 loss.
 
Brittney Dietz finished the game with 22 points, her seventh game on the season reaching at least 20 and third in the last four, with five rebounds and five assists in 39 minutes played.
 
Hannah Larson provided the help on the offense with 15 points on 4-for-7 shooting from the field, 5-for-6 from the line, to go with nine rebounds, six assists and one block in 38 minutes on the court.
 
Dani Williams and Rachel Weir added 10 points apiece as Williams grabbed four rebounds, dished three assists, and notched three steals; while Weir added three steals, a block and a rebound of her own.
 
Dani Clarke had a well-rounded effort with seven points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes of action.
 
The Marauders will take on Minot State University next week in a home-and-home series as U-Mary will travel to Minot, N.D., on Wednesday, December 16 at 7:00 PM, before hosting the Beavers in Bismarck, N.D., on Friday, December 18 at 6:00 PM.
 
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