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Whitman College Athletics

Schedule

Natalie Whitesel
86
Winner Whitman Whitm 25-3,15-1 NWC
83
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL 19-8,12-4 CCIW
Winner
Whitman Whitm
25-3,15-1 NWC
86
Final
83
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL
19-8,12-4 CCIW
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 OT 1 F
Whitman Whitm 20 17 20 19 10 86
Wheaton (IL) WHEIL 17 20 27 12 7 83

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

Blues Win OT Thriller Over Wheaton In NCAA First Round

VIDEO: Press Conference | Highlights

WAVERLY, Iowa - Mady Burdett scored a team-high 22 points, Natalie Whitesel added 14 more on a perfect 5-5 from the field and the No. 11 Whitman College women's basketball team delivered a gritty, resilient performance in an 86-83 overtime win over Wheaton (IL) in the opening round of the Division III NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday night at Levick Arena.

Whitman will face the winner of Monmouth and host Wartburg on Saturday.

In the absence of Makana Stone, the Blues (25-3) saw major contributions from a handful of role players. Kaylie McCracken shot 5-7 for 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds, several late in regulation and overtime to limit Wheaton possessions. Lily Gustafson shared game-high honors with McCracken with eight rebounds while adding six points, and Taylor Chambers added 15 points and handed out a career-high eight assists.

Hannah Williams and Hannah Frazier did the damage for Wheaton (19-8). Williams scored 18 points and Frazier added a game-high 27 on a perfect 10-10 in free throws.

Whitman, who led by 10 points in the second quarter, had to erase an eight-point fourth quarter deficit just to send the game into overtime. Frazier nailed a three pointer to help the Thunder to a 72-64 lead with 5:55 to play. The Blues rallied from similar deficits on several other occasions in the second half, and did so once again. Caira Young nailed a corner three pointer to shave the deficit to two points with 3:57 to play, then Chambers drove to the hoop for a key layup and hit a pair of free throws on the next possession to even the game at 74-74. McCracken and Kaelan Shamseldin each hit a free throw to give Whitman a brief lead but Frazier scored on a sweeping layup to send the game into overtime.

The Blues found themselves down by four twice in overtime session, the second after Bonnie Zeller hit from distance to put Wheaton up 83-79. Chambers answered right back with a three pointer of her own to make it a one-point game with 1:58 to play.

Burdett hit the shot of the game with 30 seconds to play. After Whitman survived multiple extra possessions on the defensive end, Burdett came down and nailed an elbow three pointer to put the Blues up 85-83 and force a Thunder timeout. Whitman's defense rose to the occasion late and sealed the win.

Wheaton went on an early 6-0 run in the game's opening minutes but the Blues responded to retake the lead. McCracken's layup put her team ahead 9-8 as the game headed toward its midway point. Whitesel was active early, scoring and getting to the free throw line with second chance opportunities. Late in the quarter, Katie Stahl nailed a three pointer to put the Blues up 18-12 and Whitman carried a three-point lead after one quarter of play.

The Blues were hot to open the second quarter, reeling off seven straight points capped by another Stahl three pointer to push the lead to double digits. McCracken later scored to keep the lead at 10 points but Frazier's three pointer shaved the Thunder deficit to three points with just under five minutes to play. Frazier kept the run going with another three ball to give her team its first lead since the opening quarter. Megan Taylor couldn't her layup to go for the Blues as time expired and the two teams headed to the break even at 37-37.
 
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