Feb. 4, 2002
Bowling Green, Ky. - New Orleans hit four free throws in the final 1:38 to defeat the Western Kentucky women's basketball team 75-72 in OT Monday night. It was the first time ever (22 previous tries) that UNO has defeated the Lady Toppers.
UNO (9-13, 5-5 SBC West) opened the game on an 8-2 run over the first 3:06 before Western (13-8, 7-3 SBC East) battled back to even the game at 11-11 on a free throw by Shala Reese (Jr., Easton, Texas) at the 13:10 mark. The Privateers quickly regained the advantage on free throws by Yolanda White, but WKU did not allow the lead to get above two, taking its first lead of the game (18-16) on free throws by Leslie Logsdon (So., Munfordville, Ky.) with 9:54 to play. However, a 17-7 UNO run over the next 5:11 to open up an eight-point lead with 4:36 to play. Western got back within one when a fastbreak layup by Logsdon with 1:33 to play made it 34-33, and took the lead into halftime when a jumper by Leah Lineberry (So., Calvert City, Ky.) with 22 second left made the score 38-38.
White lead all scorers at the half with 12 for UNO. Natalie Powers (Sr., Owensboro, Ky.) had 10 points for the Lady Toppers, while Reese finished the half with 10 rebounds.
WKU scored the first four points of the second half on layups by Powers and Tiffiany Diggins (Jr., Des Moines, Wash.), but UNO scored six of the next eight points to get back within one on a layup by Susan Griffee with 16:35 to play. However, the Lady Toppers maintained the advantage until New Orleans tied the score at 53-53 on a layup by Jamie Tyler at the 11:17 mark. Neither team took more than a two-point lead the rest of the half as a Powers layup tied the game for the seventh time at 66-66 with 2:00 to play. Jasmine Smiri gave the Privateers the lead with a three with 37 seconds to play, but Powers drained a three of her own with 20 seconds left to even the game at 69-69. White's jumper at the buzzer fell off the rim and the game went to overtime.
In the extra session, Powers gave the Lady Toppers a one-point lead (72-71) on a three with 2:06 to play after Griffee hit two foul shots to give UNO the lead. That would turn out to be the final points for the Lady Toppers. White would hit the final four free throws and Powers had her three-point attempt blocked at the buzzer as UNO held on for the win.
White lead all scorers with 26 points, and completed the double-double pulling down 10 boards. Powers led three Lady Toppers in double figures with 25, while Logsdon and Diggins contributed 11 and 10, respectively. Reese also finished with seven points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
WKU continues its three-game homestand Thursday night, hosting Arkansas-Little Rock at 7 p.m. (CST) in Diddle Arena.
-- WKU --
