BUTTE, Mont. – Hannah Burland put the ball in the basket as the backboard lit up and the buzzer sounded, signaling a 62-60 victory in overtime for the No. 21 Lewis-Clark State Women's Basketball team. The Montana Tech Orediggers pushed the Warriors until the end, but it was LC State who emerged victorious after 45 minutes of intense basketball. Four Warrior women scored in double digits, and two notched double-doubles in the contest, led by Peyton Souvenir's 16 points.
"We got off to a slow start, but as soon as Hannah got in the game we got it going on both ends," coach Brian Orr said. "Even though I felt like we were in control for most of the game, you just knew Tech was going to make a run.
"(Tech's) Tavia Rooney dominated the offensive glass, and Mesa Williams and Mollie Peoples hit two big 3s to send it to overtime. Our defense stepped it up in overtime and Hannah saved us with a steal and a put-back at the buzzer. It was definitely a gritty road win."
After a quick 4-0 run by Tech to open the game, Peyton Souvenir put the Warriors on the board at 7:20. The Diggers took an 8-2 lead, but a 3-pointer from Hannah Burland cut the deficit to three points. Burland hit a second 3 at the 3:00 mark, and a bucket by Kiara Burlage at 1:07 made it 14-10 in favor of Montana Tech. The first quarter closed with The Orediggers leading 14-11.
Abbie Johnson knocked down a floater to open the second frame of play in Butte, cutting the deficit to 14-13. Johnson grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back at 6:28 to keep the Warriors within two. Souvenir hit a deep 3 to make it 21-20 with just over four to play in the half, and a pair of free throws by Burlage gave the Warriors their first lead of the game at 22-21. Jamie Nielson added on with a bucket on an assist from Johnson.
Burlage made it a 9-2 run at 2:50 to grow the lead to 26-21. Souvenir made it a five-point lead with two foul shots in the final two minutes, and LC State led 28-26 at the half.
Montana Tech evened the score to begin the second half. Burlage found Nielson under the basket to put LC State back in front 30-28 at 8:31. A pair of free throws and a basket by Johnson kept the Warriors in front by a slim three-point margin. Johnson added on at 7:10 to make it 36-31.
Nielson and Burland went back-to-back to give LC State a 42-34 lead, and Nielson made it 44-36 to end the third quarter.
Johnson put LC in front by 10 to open the final quarter, but a 9-2 run by the Diggers brought Montana Tech within one. Burlage hit a basket at 6:27 to push the lead back out to three at 48-45. Souvenir drained a 3 at 5:35 to bring the lead to 51-47.
Tech tied the game 53-53 with 3:15 to play before Souvenir put the Warriors in front with a three-point play with under a minute to go at 56-55. Jansen Edmiston was good for one of two free throws with 18 seconds on the clock, bringing the score to 57-55, but a foul sent Tech to the line to tie the game and send it to overtime.
A free throw by Tech gave them the first lead of the overtime period. Souvenir tied the game 60-60 with a 3 from deep with just under two minutes remaining. Burland picked up an offensive rebound and put it back as the buzzer sounded to give the Warriors a 62-60 win in overtime.
Souvenir led LC State with 16 points in the game, followed by 14 from Burland. Burlage and Johnson both collected double-doubles, with Burlage dropping 13 points and grabbing 11 boards, while Johnson led the Warriors with 15 rebounds to go with 10 points.
The Warriors host their final home game of the regular-season on Saturday. They will honor senior Nielson in a ceremony prior to the 5:30 tip off against No. 16 Carroll College.
With tonight's win, LC State is tied with Carroll for second in the Frontier Conference. No. 19 Montana Western currently holds the top spot, and the Warriors will face them in the final contest of the regular season.
