Halley Busse drained a step-back 3-pointer from just over 25 feet with 1.8 seconds remaining to give Wayne State a come-from-behind 54-52 win at the University of Mary Wednesday evening in the opening round of the Northern Sun Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament in Bismarck, N.D.
The Wildcats trailed throughout the contest thanks to a 1-11 start shooting in the first quarter as Wayne State trailed 14-4 after the opening period.
Wayne State heated up in the second period, going 7-of-15 from the floor and using a pair of 7-0 runs to turn a 10-point deficit into a 26-24 Mary lead at the half.
Wayne State opened the third quarter with a Brittany Bongartz layup and a Andrea Larson free throw to take their first lead of the night at 27-26. That lead was short-lived, as the Marauders went on a 12-2 run over the 4:22 to take a nine-point lead at 38-29.
Wayne State then held Mary scoreless for the final 4:55 of the third quarter to get within three at 38-35 following an Erin Norling layup entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter saw neither team hold a lead of more than three points while trading seven lead changes and four ties.
Mary was in front 48-46 with 3:29 remaining. Baskets by Bongartz and Norling gave the Wildcats a 50-48 lead with 2:11 to play, but the Marauders responded with two baskets to regain the lead at 52-50 with :30 left.
Norling hit one of two free throws with 15 second to play, cutting the deficit to 52-51, and Wayne State forced a turnover with :10, giving them one last shot. Busse took the ball and launched a step-back 3-pointer from well behind the top of the circle and hit the trifecta with 1.8 seconds remaining, giving the Wildcats the dramatic come-from-behind win.
Bongartz paced Wayne State with 19 points and 11 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Norling ended with 17 points and Busse finished with 10. Norling had three assists and three steals while Bongartz registered five blocked shots in the win.
The Wildcats (15-14) face the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D.
