THE LEAD >>>
WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- Midwestern State's
Dyamon Griggs scored 22 points after the start of the fourth period including the game tying 3-pointer in regulation and winning shot in the closing seconds of the second overtime lifting the Mustangs to an 82-81 win Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
HOW IT HAPPENED >>>
Dyamon Griggs and
Kennedi Green combined for 29 of Midwestern State's 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs overcame a 14-point deficit to force overtime.
St. Mary's senior Tonia Bilic opened the final period with a jumper in the paint to give the Rattlers their largest lead of the game at 47-33 with 9:38 to play.
But the Mustangs doubled their point production before the end of regulation as Griggs converted a three-point play, while Green hit a pair of free throws and converted a steal into a layup as the Mustangs scored the next nine points to pull within 47-42 with 7 1/2 minutes to play.
Green continued to attack the paint scoring MSU's next seven points at the charity stripe to trim St. Mary's lead to 52-49 with 5:20 remaining.
The Mustangs finally clawed within a basket at 63-61 on
Shawnisay Millar's layup with 1:20 to go.
But Teanna Huggins hit a layup in transition to push the St. Mary's lead back out to four with 1:07 to play, then following a pair of free throws by Griggs StMU's Briley Perkins connected one of two free throws to give the Mustangs one last gasp.
Griggs took an inbound pass, and buried a 3-pointer from the right wing to send the game to overtime.
St. Mary's took control with a 5-0 run during the second overtime pushing the advantage to 80-75 on Natalia Ryng's layup with two minutes to play.
Griggs converted another three-point play to pull MSU back to within 80-78 with 1:33 to play before Ryng connected on a one of two from the charity stripe.
MSU's
Markayla Johnson hit a driving layup to cut the St. Mary's lead to one point before Green delivered a dazzling pass to Griggs, who rolled in the winning layup with six seconds to go.
LEADERS >>>
- Midwestern State freshman
Dyamon Griggs splashed in her second 20-point effort of her career finishing with a game-high 26 points. The Waco native connected on 8-of-14 shots from the field and was 9-of-12 from the charity stripe. She also matched a career high with seven rebounds.
- MSU junior
Kennedi Green scored a season-high 16 points powered by a 12-of-16 effort from the charity stripe. She was 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the fourth period. Green also dished out a season-best six assists.
- MSU senior
Mandy Withey matched a career high by grabbing 13 rebounds for the third time in her last five games. Seven of the boards came on the offensive end of the floor. She also blocked three shots.
- MSU's
Eternity Jackson and
Markayla Johnson combined for a total of two points, but tied for a team-best plus-8 in over 30 minutes of play.
- St. Mary's sophomore Faith Phillips scored a career-high 19 points to lead the Rattlers.
GAME NOTES >>>
- Midwestern State played its first double overtime game since the Mustangs beat West Texas A&M 87-80 on Jan. 2, 2021 at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
- The Mustangs played consecutive overtime games for the first time since the 2014 Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament at the Allen Event Center. MSU beat Angelo State 70-66 in the semifinals before falling 86-85 to West Texas A&M in the final.
- Midwestern State played five overtime games during the 2013-14 season which was also the last time the Mustangs played in multiple OT games in a season.
- Midwestern State blocked a season-high 10 shots against St. Mary's on Monday led by
Mandy Withey and
Shawnisay Millar with three each. The Mustangs lead the Lone Star Conference with 49 blocked shots in nine games (5.44 per game).
UP NEXT >>>
Midwestern State and Cameron renew the Red River Rivalry Saturday afternoon at Aggie Gym in Lawton. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m.
-- MSUMustangs.com --
