Saint Mary-of-the-Woods suffered a second heartbreaking overtime loss in the past 10 days Thursday, falling 71-66 at West Virginia Tech.
Kylee Stepp (West Terre Haute, Ind/West Vigo) hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining in regulation to put the Pomeroys ahead 57-56. The Pomeroys forced a turnover by the Golden Bears and Brionna Sims made 1 of 2 at the free-throw line. West Virgina Tech's Rylee Allie converted at the buzzer to force OT.
Much like the fourth quarter, the Golden Bears (12-8, 5-4 RSC) and Pomeroys (11-6, 3-6 RSC) went back and forth in the overtime. Brooklynn Jones (Loogootee, Ind./Loogootee) and Abbi Parker broke ties at the free-throw line to put SMWC ahead by one twice in the final two minutes.
Neither team led by more than two points until Alva Hedrich hit two free throws with 25 seconds left for a 69-66 WV Tech lead. The Golden Bears hit two more free throws to secure the win.
Avalee Jeffers (Cory, Ind./Clay City) led the way for SMWC with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Parker also had 11 for the Pomeroys. Jones, coming off a career-best 26 point performance, was held to nine. Stepp and Sims led the SMWC bench with eight points apiece, and Haley Polston chipped in seven, all in the third quarter.
SMWC led by as many as nine in the third quarter after erasing an eight-point second quarter deficit before halftime.
The Pomeroys shot 34.3 percent (24-70) in the game and 60 percent (12 for 20) at the free-throw line.