WINONA, Minn. – On a night featuring 20 lead changes and ten ties, there was no doubt the 2015 Northern Sun / Sanford Health women's basketball tournament opener between the visiting University of Mary and Winona State University would come down to the final possession of the game. Unfortunately for the Marauders it was the Warriors who had the ball last.
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With time ticking down, Connor Nagle knocked down her lone basket of the night with 1.6 seconds remaining in the game to give Winona State a 67-62 win. Her 3-pointer from the right corner appeared to spin out of the cylinder before falling to break a 62-62 tie.
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The loss ends the Marauders season at 9-19. Winona State improves to 20-7 overall and advances to the NSIC quarterfinals on Saturday, Feb 28, against Minnesota Duluth.
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The Marauders grabbed their final lead of the night when
Hannah Larson knocked down two free throws with 1:49 remaining to push U-Mary ahead 60-59. A Hannah McGlone layup at 1:27 regained the lead for the Warriors and a McGlone free throw with 52 seconds left increased the WSU advantage to 62-60.
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U-Mary then turned the ball over to its best scorer and
Brittney Dietz came through with a layup at 0:42 to knot the game at 62-62.
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A hounding defensive effort by the Marauders forced the Warriors to fire up an off-balance trey attempt with a second on the shot clock. The rebound just missed settling into U-Mary hands as Alexis Foley snared the biggest board of the night.
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Following a Warriors time out, Kayla Timmerman fired the ball to Nagle in the right corner. Nagle then connected for her first basket of the game, a trey with 1.6 seconds left.
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Needing a near-miracle play, the Marauders instead were called for a violation before inbounding the ball, providing the Warriors another possession. A subsequent intentional foul called against the Marauders sent Timmerman to the line for two free throws, both made, and the final possession of the game.
Dietz and
Dani Clarke led the Marauders in scoring, both chipping in 14 points. Clarke was 2-for-3 on trey attempts. Dietz had seven rebounds and dealt three assists.
Dani Williams added 11 points and two assists. Turner added 11 rebounds and four blocks.
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McGlone scored 19 points and made 7-of-12 shots to pace the Warriors attack. Tara Roelofs added 16 points and Timmerman 15.
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