Box Score
MNU claimed its 3rd straight HAAC Tournament title with a thrilling 79-72 overtime victory at Baker on Tuesday. The victory snapped Baker's 19-game win streak and gave MNU an automatic bid to Nationals in Frankfort, Kentucky next week.
After MNU recorded the first bucket, Baker scored the next 9 straight to force a Pioneer timeout. A 15-7 MNU run gave the lead back to the Pioneers, and the game was tight for the rest of the half. Baker took a 4-point lead into the locker room as the teams' respective sharp-shooters, Kyrstie Ehm and
Megan Balcom, went for 18 and 10 points in the period.
The start of the second half was all Baker as the Wildcats built an 8-point lead. A technical foul called on MNU extended the lead to 10 but seemed to rally the troops. The Pioneers immediately went on a 15-1 run to take a 4-point lead, and the following minutes were a tense back-and-forth affair. With the score tied and 5 minutes remaining,
Megan Balcom nailed a 3-pointer and
Daria Sprew followed with a bucket in the paint for a 5-point lead. But MNU went scoreless 3 minutes while Baker clawed back into it.
Kelsey Balcom hit a pair of free throws to put the Pioneers up 3 with a minute left, but Baker tied it with 3 free throws in the final 50 seconds to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime, the score was tied at 66 with 3 minutes remaining when
Kyleesha Weston took over. After scoring a bucket in the paint and a defensive stop, Weston calmly nailed a 3-pointer to give the Pioneers a 5-point lead. After Baker split a pair of free throws,
Navia Palu scored underneath and MNU added some more free throws to extend the lead to 8. Baker couldn't find the miracle comeback, the final horn sounded, and MNU celebrated the title.
Megan Balcom hit 4 three-pointers for 16 points and 4 assists.
Kelsey Balcom recorded 14 points, a game-high 9 rebounds, and a game-high 6 assists.
Daria Sprew added 12 points.
Kyleesha Weston put up 11 points, pulled down 6 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, and had 3 steals. And
Kendra Flemming had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals.
MNU is 27-3 and awaits their matchup in the first round of Nationals. Their opponent will be announced tomorrow at 6:00.
