MINOT, N.D. – Minot State University's Kari Clements (RFr., G, Trevor, Wis.) hit a layup with 6.6 seconds remaining to force overtime, but Minnesota State University Moorhead hit 16 free throws in the extra session to escape Minot with an 82-71 win in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference women's basketball Friday.

The Dragons did not hit a field goal in overtime, but went 16 for 18 from the line to pull away from MSU.

"I thought our kids battled hard," MSU head coach Sheila Green Gerding said. "Our press kind of wore on them and we just made some plays on offense. I give credit to the kids for playing their hearts out and digging in when they needed to."

But it was a pair of missed free throws down the stretch that helped give Minot State a chance to rally from down by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter. The misses left a two-point lead and Clements erased that with a strong drive to the basket. MSU withstood a long 3 at the buzzer and took momentum into the extra session.

"Kari just had feel," Green Gerding said. "She has a feel for the game and she knows how to make plays. She needs to get better defensively, that's something we've been talking to her about. It's a growing thing. I think she'll be in pretty good form by midseason."

MSU Moorhead took that away with 6 for 6 shooting from the line early in the overtime and those were compounded by three early Minot State turnovers that put MSUM in command.

"I just think this team has a lot of heart," Green Gerding said. "I don't think they ever stop. I think they play hard all the time and never give up. They believe our defense can create some offense. I thought Alex Haley (Jr., G, Libertyville, Ill.) and Sarah Lester (Sr., G, Frenchtown, Mont.) both responded well in the second half and made some plays for us. Kari just finds ways to score for us."

The loss spoiled a great night for Haley, who scored 23 points – 17 in the second half and overtime. She was 10 of 23 from the floor and finished with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.

The Dragons (5-0 overall, 2-0 NSIC) had nearly all of its points from three players as Morgan Banasik finished with a game-high 24 points. She was 12 of 12 from the line. Savanna Handevidt scored 21 points and added 11 rebounds, while Heather Strese finished with 15 points and eight rebounds. MSUM held a 46-36 advantage in rebounds, but committed one more turnover, 24-23.

Along with Haley, MSU (3-4, 0-1) had three others in double figures. Clements, Lester and Savana Kingsbury (Sr., F, Omaha, Neb.) all scored 10 points. Kingsbury finished with her first double-double of the year, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds in just under 40 minutes. Amanda Sansaver (Sr., G, Wolf Point, Mont.) scored seven points an added three rebounds, two assists and two steals in the loss.

Minot State will look to get into the win column in NSIC play as the Beavers play host to Northern State Saturday starting at 4 p.m.

About Minot State
Minot State University is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and NCAA Division II offering 14 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletics programs. The NSIC is a premier NCAA DII, 16-member conference featuring teams in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. The Beavers are the only public NCAA Division II institution in the state of North Dakota.