The Beloit College women's basketball team battled Wednesday night in Flood Arena but suffered an overtime loss to Lawrence University 80-76.
Free throws were the difference in the contest as the Vikings registered 44 attempts from the charity stripe, dropping in 34 points from the line. The Buccaneers were sent to the free throw line a far less frequent clip, tallying 23 shots from the line in the game.
In regulation, the first and fourth quarters were extremely close with just three points separating the two teams in the two periods combined. The Vikings dominated the second 16-7 while the Bucs flipped the script on the other side of the break winning the third 20-10. Despite the runs, it all came down to the final seconds of the fourth.
The score was tied five times in the quarter that garnered the most drama in the game. Down 45-44 heading into the fourth,
Hadja Bayo hit a jumper to open the final quarter of regulation and reclaim the Beloit lead 46-45. Lawrence quickly got the advantage back and failed to trail until the 3:39 mark with
T'Aira Boyance's layup that made it 55-54. Boyance knocked the ball away from a Viking guard and went the distance to make it a three-point lead with under three to go. Beloit held the lead for nearly three minutes until a Viking three knotted the game 61-61 with 34 seconds remaining.
The Bucs took a timeout and advanced the ball to their offensive end. With zero fouls indicated on the Lawrence side of the scoreboard and just 27 ticks left, the Vikings fouled four straight times to hinder the amount of time Beloit had for a play. After the fourth foul,
Elizabeth Kalk inbounded with 10 seconds remaining. She got the ball back right away, slashing towards the top of the key as time ticked away. The Vikings swarmed just above the free throw line leaving
Johanna McNair wide open on the left block. Kalk hit McNair in stride and she hit the layin for a 63-61 lead with just two seconds on the clock.
Lawrence called timeout to advance the ball to their offensive end. On the inbound, Mallory Meyer went left, tossed up a fadeaway jumper just outside of the paint on the baseline that was falling short of the rim when a whistle came from the sideline. A foul was called with 0.1 seconds on the clock sending Meyer to the line for a pair of free throws. She hit both giving the fans in Flood Arena an extra five minutes of basketball.
With multiple Buccaneers in foul trouble, Lawrence was able to capture and hold the lead the overtime period. A
Lexy Olson three-pointer with three seconds on the clock cut the lead to two, 78-76, but the Vikings were rolling from the charity stripe. A pair of free throws following the immediate foul sealed the game.
Boyance led a contingent of three Bucs in double figures with 20 points.
Hannah Welte and Bayo had 13 each. Kalk hauled in a team-high nine boards and dished out a game-high eight assists.
