Morehead, Ky. -- 40 minutes wasn't enough to decide things between Morehead State and Western Illinois Saturday afternoon in Macomb, Ill. Despite holding the lead for over 34 minutes and getting a double/double from
Maia Rosarion MSU fell to Western Illinois 78-73.
In the overtime period, Western Illinois (13-12/ 7-9 OVC) ran off with a 6-0 run to go up 70-64. Morehead State (8-18/ 3-13 OVC) was hampered by four turnovers in the extra period.
Aileen Marquez hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left to pull the Eagles to within three at 74-71.
After a pair of Raegan McCowan free throws to push the WIU lead to five,
Kate Novik made a driving layup to make it 76-73 with 31 seconds to go. McCowan iced the game with a pair of free throws with seven seconds to go. McCowan finished the game with 34 points, one point off her season-high.
MSU began the fourth quarter up 48-45 and led until an Allie Meadows jumper with 5:06 to put WIU ahead for the first time since early in the first quarter. WIU extended the lead to four, when
Harley Paynter drained two straight three-pointers to put the Eagles up 61-59 with 1:15 to go.
McCowan made three out of four free throws sandwiched around a
Michelle Ugwah illegal screen to put the Leathernecks up 62-61. After an MSU timeout, Paynter struck again with the long-ball to give MSU the 64-62 lead. Paynter finished with 14 points, her third straight game in double figures.
A McCowan jumper in the lane evened it up at 64 with nine seconds to go. After another MSU timeout, Novik fed
Maia Rosarion on the right baseline. Her turnaround jumper rolled off at the buzzer, and the game went to overtime.
Rosarion had an outstanding game, leading the Eagles with 20 points and 12 rebounds, for her third double/double of the season. Novik just missed her first career triple-double; she tallied 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Eagles got off to a fast start, running off the game's first five points. The first WIU bucket was a Mia Nicastro turnaround jumper at the 6:19 mark, which sparked a six-point run for the Leathernecks. The Eagles finished the opening period up 14-10.
After a cold-shooting first quarter, the Eagles' offense geared up in the second period. MSU shot 6-12 from the floor in the quarter to 4-11 for Western Illinois, and they took a 32-26 lead into the intermission. Â
In addition to McCowan, WIU placed two other players in double figures. Mia Nicastro finished with 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season. Mallory McDermott added 11.
Morehead State returns home Thursday to host SIUE in Johnson Arena. Tip scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Morehead State held the lead for 34:12. WIU had the lead for 7:44, five minutes of that total came in the overtime period.
- The Eagles shot 37% from the floor for the game (26-71). The Leathernecks went 24-62 (39%)
- Western Illinois dominated at the free throw line: they were 30-35 (86%). Morehead State was very good at the line, shooting 15-18 (83%), their highest percentage of the season. MSU was whistled for 27 fouls; WIU was called for 15
- MSU won the rebounding battle 45-42. Their 14-12 edge on the offensive glass led to a 20-10 advantage in second chance points. Eight of Rosarion's 12 rebounds came on the offensive end.
- Morehead State committed 17 turnovers while Western Illinois had 12, giving the Leathernecks a 17-11 edge in points off turnovers.
