SE Survives OT Thriller Against NWOSU

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern moved back in the win column with a thrilling 70-66 overtime win over Northwestern Oklahoma State on Saturday night in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
The win lifts the Savage Storm to 9-1 overall on the season and 3-1 in Great American Conference play heading into a non-conference matchup against in-state foe Cameron at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 15 in Bloomer Sullivan Arena.
 
A pair of Emily Williams' free throws with 13 seconds to play would knot the game at 59-59 and send it to OT.
 
The teams traded the lead with six total ties and lead changes, with the last coming as Madison Thames drained a pair of free throws to put the Storm in front 65-64 with 1:15 to play.
 
After a Shelby Hill steal, Williams would drain a high-arching three with 32 seconds to play to make the SE lead two possessions and the Storm would hold on for the 70-66 win thanks to a pair of Kaylie Baxter free throws with eight seconds to play.
 
Williams and Baxter combined for 38 points on the night with 19 points apiece.
 
Williams went 4-of-11 for just the one three, but was a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line, while Baxter was 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-4 form long range.
 
Williams also completed her fourth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds as the Storm held a 37-to-29 edge on the glass.
 
Hill and Rachel Wallace each added seven boards and three others had three each.
 
Offensively, SE hit 47.5 percent from the field, hitting seven three and bouncing back at the free throw line with a 78.1 percent team effort, hitting 25-of-32 freebies.
 
Williams and Baxter each had eight points in the first half as the Storm trailed for much of the half, falling behind as many as nine points before closing out the half on a 15-4 run to take a 33-31 lead into the locker room at half.
 
Baxter added another nine points to lead the team in the second half.
 
Southeastern would lead early in the second half, but fall behind by as many as five points and would trial by two with 22 seconds to play before Williams tied the game with her aforementioned free throws.
   
Williams scored five of the team's 11 overtime points going 2-for-2 from the field, including her three which gave the Storm a two possession lead in the waning seconds.