A fast start to overtime propelled Pittsburg State University to a 91-80 victory over Arkansas Tech University in the second round of the 2016 NCAA Division II Tournament at John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, Kan., on Saturday night.
After regulation ended with the score tied 75-75, the Gorillas (28-5) got back-to-back 3-pointers from Mikaela Burgess and Cathy Brugman to begin the extra period. Burgess added a layup at the 2:40 mark of overtime to give Pitt State an 83-75 edge.
Tech’s Fatima Adams answered with a layup of her own to pull the Suns within 83-77 with 2:19 left, but that was as close as they could get. The Gorillas, who were 31-of-34 (91 percent) from the free throw line for the game, made 4-of-4 free throws over the final minute to seal the win.
Second-seeded Pitt State advances to face top-seeded Emporia State State University in the NCAA Division II Tournament Central Regional championship game at 7 p.m. Monday.
The Golden Suns, regular season and postseason champions of the Great American Conference, ended their season with an overall record of 27-4.
“We kept battling back,” said Arkansas Tech head coach Dave Wilbers. “We had our chances. We were one possession away from knocking them off. We were fatigued tonight. That was a tough game last night (against Missouri Western). Credit Pittsburg State. They made the plays to win the game tonight.”
That one possession that Wilbers mentioned came at the end of regulation. With the score tied 75-75, the Golden Suns had the ball. With seven seconds remaining, an Arkansas Tech pass went off the extended leg of a Pitt State defender. No kicked ball was called, the loose ball rolled into the backcourt and regulation time expired.
“She (the official) said it went off (the Pitt State player’s) thigh,” said Wilbers. “It was definitely a kicked ball. We had seven seconds left, we were in transition and we were going to have a chance to make a play to win the game. But that’s basketball.”
Bre Brooks and Anissa Pounds led the Suns with 16 points apiece. Aujana Dawkins had 15 points and 12 rebounds for her second consecutive double-double and fifth of the season.
Adams scored 14 points and grabbed six rebounds in her final collegiate game. She completed her two-year career with the Golden Suns with 1,300 points, 16th-most in program history.
Tech’s Kelsey McClure added eight points, all of which came in the fourth quarter.
Cathy Brugman scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Gorillas. She was 16-of-16 at the free throw line.
