SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Taylor Mann isn’t exactly a 3-point specialist. In fact, before Thursday night, the Dixie State sophomore forward had made just one trey all season. So hitting a game-saving bank-shot 3-pointer to send the game into overtime in the conference quarterfinals may have involved more than just a little luck. Whatever it takes, right?
The Lady Storm had to scurry from six points down with two minutes left to prevent falling to the lower-seeded Dominican. DSU won in overtime 99-86 over the Lady Penguins.
Dixie State led by 17 early in the second half. The Lady Penguins went on a 25-8 run to take the lead late in the game. Dominican took a three-point lead with 28 seconds left. After a timeout DSU coach Catherria Turner set up a 3-point shot for Miranda Moore because their best 3-point specialists, Kaylah Miller and Brianna White, had fouled out minutes earlier. White’s shot was off, but the rebound tipped to Mann, who banked in a 25-foot shot to tie the game with 1.7 seconds left, taking the game into overtime.
The Lady Storm scored the first nine points of the extra period, tipping the scales easily in DSU’s favor from then on. Four different players scored during the run. Jade Castro’s 3-pointer broke the run, closing the score to 89-83. The Lady Penguins had to start fouling and the Lady Storm sent a parade of players to the line, closing out the game on a 10-3 run, with all points coming from the charity stripe.
A total of 65 fouls were called during the game with five players fouling out. The 99 points scored by Dixie State are a season high. The Lady Storm held a 66-52 rebound advantage.
The Lady Penguins were led by Salonika Quewon-Owens with 18 points. She was joined by Carly Holboke and Jasmine Cox with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
All Pac-West first team selection Haley Holmstead led the Red Storm with 28 points, including a perfect 12 for 12 from the free throw line. Dixie had two players with double-doubles. Mann had 22 points and 18 rebounds. Halleigh Emmerine had 11 points and 14 rebounds. They were joined in double-figures by Miller and Moore with 14 and 10 points.
The loss ended Dominican’s season at 9-18. Dixie moves to 14-13 and advances to play the No. 1-seeded Academy of Art at 7:45 Friday night.
Stats: DSUW 99, DU 86 (OT)
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