GRINNELL, Iowa – For the first time in over a decade, the Beloit College women's basketball team walked out of Darby Gymnasium with a victory.
In a thrilling contest that required an extra five minutes to decide, freshman Brooke Foster (Machesney Park, Ill.) drained a game-winning three-pointer with just four seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Buccaneers (3-4, 1-0 MWC) to a dramatic 72-71 victory over the Pioneers (2-4, 0-1 MWC).
The win snaps a lengthy road drought for Beloit against their Midwest Conference rival, marking the program's first victory in Grinnell since 2014.
Trailing 71-69 with the clock ticking down in overtime, Beloit needed a miracle to avoid heartbreak. After a free throw put the hosts up by two, Beloit advanced the ball for one final possession.
Forward Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.), who had anchored the Buccaneers all night, acted as the facilitator. She found Foster on the perimeter, and the freshman guard connected from deep, putting Beloit up 72-71. Grinnell's last-ditch effort ended in a turnover as time expired, sealing the historic win for Beloit.
Johnson was the engine for the Buccaneers' offense throughout the night. The senior forward led all scorers with 18 points on efficient 7-of-14 shooting while also pulling down a team-high eight rebounds. It was fitting that Johnson provided the assist on the game-winner, capping a complete performance.
Julia Kennedy (South Milwaukee, WI) provided crucial perimeter scoring, finishing with 14 points. Kennedy was lethal from deep, connecting on 4-of-8 attempts from three-point range, keeping the floor spaced for Johnson to operate inside.
The hero of the night, Foster, came off the bench to deliver a spark. In 19 minutes of play, she tallied 12 points and six rebounds, shooting 5-of-7 from the field.
The game was a back-and-forth affair featuring 12 lead changes and seven ties. Beloit had to weather an early storm as Grinnell jumped out to a quick lead, but the Bucs settled in to take a 35-32 advantage into halftime. Beloit's strategy to attack the interior paid dividends, as they outscored Grinnell 36-22 in the paint for the game.
The Buccaneers appeared to have momentum in the third quarter, building their largest lead of the game (eight points) with under four minutes to play in the period. However, the Pioneers clawed back in the fourth, forcing a 63-63 deadlock at the end of regulation after a defensive struggle in the final minutes where neither team could find the basket.
In overtime, Grinnell struck first, taking a 68-65 lead. But Beloit refused to fold. Clutch free-throw shooting kept them within striking distance, setting the stage for Foster's heroics.
The Buccaneers step out of MWC action on Saturday when they host south-of-the-border foe Rockford Univeristy. Tip off from Flood Arena is set for 1 pm on November 29th.
