Mount Marty Outlasts Morningside in Overtime Thriller, 93-92
Yankton, S.D. – In a back-and-forth battle that needed extra time, Mount Marty edged out Morningside 93-92 in an overtime thriller at Cimpl Arena. The Lancers overcame a second-half surge from the Mustangs, using clutch shooting and composure at the free-throw line to secure the win.
Mount Marty (10-13, 4-13 GPAC) shot an impressive 50% from both the field and beyond the arc, with five players scoring in double figures. Kaela Martinez led the way with 19 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Sidney Thue added 19 points of her own, going a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.
The Lancers built a 45-36 halftime lead, fueled by strong three-point shooting from Martinez and Emma Jarovski. However, Morningside (10-12, 8-8 GPAC) stormed back in the third quarter, outscoring Mount Marty 26-16 behind the play of Lily Vollertsen, who finished with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds.
Trailing 74-73 with under a minute to go in regulation, Mount Marty's Alexus Motley hit two clutch free throws to put the Lancers back on top. Morningside answered with a late layup, but neither team could convert on their final possessions, sending the game to overtime tied at 81-81.
In the extra period, Mount Marty held their composure. Leah Williams and Kyra Griese each hit key three-pointers, and the Lancers made 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch to hold off Morningside's last-minute push.
Mount Marty's defense came up big when it mattered most, forcing a late turnover to seal the victory. The Lancers won despite being out-rebounded 38-24, making up for it with efficient shooting and 17 team assists.
Key Players for Mount Marty
- Kaela Martinez – 19 points, 4-8 3PT, 3 assists, 4 steals
- Sidney Thue – 19 points, 7-12 FG, 4 rebounds, 6 steals
- Emma Jarovski – 14 points, 2-3 3PT, 4 rebounds
- Alexus Motley – 12 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists
- Kyra Griese – 10 points, 3-5 3PT, 5 assists
- Leah Williams – 11 points, 3-5 3PT, 2 assists
The win marks Mount Marty's fourth conference victory as they look to carry this momentum into their next matchup.
