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Published March 07, 2010, 07:00 PM

Bison Women Fall In OT, 76-75 to UMKC

(WDAY Sports) - The 5th seeded Bison women also played a Summit League quarterfinal today, taking on 4th seed UMKC and what a game this turned out to be! The Bison scored the first 10 points of the game. Off the steal, Katie Birkel all the way for 2 of her 17, but after the quick start, NDSU trailed by four at the break.

By: Dom Izzo, WDAY

  • 5th seeded Bison
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    The 5th seeded Bison women also played a Summit League quarterfinal today, taking on 4th seed UMKC and what a game this turned out to be!

The Kangaroos extended the lead early in half two. Chazny Morris had a tournament record tying 7 threes, 30 points in all. UMKC has its biggest lead of 8. But the Bison claw back behind the efforts of senior Jill Zaruba. She was huge down the stretch, scoring 12 of her team high 18 points. The Bison would force overtime tied at 66!

In OT, Abby Plucker with the baseline jumper, she had 11. Bison up four, 72-68. But on the next possession, the Roos’ Heather Davis with, maybe the shot that saved the game, banking in a "3". It was her only basket, UMKC down one.

After Birkel made 1 of 2 free throws with 9 seconds left, the Bison were still up one. UMKC's Leandrea Thomas then goes coast to coast and scores with 1.4 seconds left! Kangeroos were up 76-75.

Last chance for NDSU, Zaruba with the heave to Plucker, Not a bad look and it comes oh so close, but the Bison fall 76-75 in overtime. The Bison end the season 16-13. UMKC: lights out from beyond the arc, 11 of 21. For more, here's WDAY Sports Director Dom Izzo.

The last time the Bison played on this floor, they made national headlines and became an instant classic. Today, the NDSU women tried to follow suit, but it was the Bison who became victims of a buzzer beater.

Carolyn DeHoff: “Great college basketball game with players on both sides making plays. It ends up with the team with the ball in their hands last and a player making a play.”

Katie Birkel: “We felt good coming out of the overtime, got up right away, and their kid banks in a three. It was just hard-fought.”

Jill Zaruba: “Going out in overtime, as a senior class, we've had a roller coaster ride here. I guess you could say we left it all on the floor. No regrets whatsoever.”

Carolyn: “I feel bad for our seniors and for the group because they did play hard and it was a back and forth game and the momentum did continue to change.”

Ashley Samuelson: “Our effort from our team was great. I'm very satisfied with how we played, even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted. It's the end, but it's the beginning of a lot more to come.”

It only seems fitting today's game came down to the wire. Today's loss marks the 6th time this season that NDSU has lost by 8 points or less. In other quarterfinals, the SDSU women advance, but the men do not, falling to IPFW.

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