MARSHALL, Texas – It took an extra five minutes to finish, but the East Texas Baptist University women's basketball team continues their magical run as they stunned #6 University of St. Thomas (Minn.), 61-58 in overtime. ETBU is heading to their first Elite Eight in program history and now have a 25-6 record winning their last six games.
 
"We are just honored to be here," says head coach Rusty Rainbolt. "St. Thomas is a great program and has a fine team. Truly, as we have been saying all season, this is a special group of ladies that the Lord has put together. We are playing for Him and He continues to bless us."
 
While nobody for ETBU finished in double figures, four players, including Madison McCoy, Karley McHenry, Erin Meeks, and Sydney Saxton would score nine points. Saxton also led ETBU with six assists while Meeks would share the lead with Kim Childress in rebounding with five rebounds each. Hannah Spaulding led all scorers with a double-double by scoring 28 points and collecting 11 rebounds.
 
ETBU outshot UST 42.9%-40.4% from the field and make 76.5% from the free-throw line. Although both teams made six three-pointers, it was ETBU who finished with a higher percentage at 37.5%. ETBU also scored 17 points off turnovers and outscored UST's bench 34-7.
 
Neither team scored for the first two minutes of the game before Childress banked in the first basket of the game. After UST tied the score, ETBU ran with five straight points from Amanda Wilson (6:43) and Childress (6:19) to lead 7-2. However, the Tommies would tie the game at 7-7 before a three-pointer by McCoy (4:44) would help ETBU finish the quarter strong with an 11-0 run (4:44-1:44) to lead 18-8 after one quarter. McCoy would also tack on four points (3:42, 3:06) while Saxton (2:19) and Meeks (1:44) added points to lead 18-7. One STU free throw (0:26) would make it 18-8 after one quarter.
 
UST (10:00-5:08) would put together a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 20-18 before a McHenry three pushed ETBU's lead to 23-18 (4:49). Mallory Stephens would follow that with a three-pointer to make it an eight point lead at 26-18 (3:58). It was 28-20 (2:15) before STU would score the final four points to cut the lead to 28-24 by halftime.
 
ETBU scored first in the third quarter on a basket by Baylie Lindsey (9:44) only to see UST answer with six straight points to tie the game at 30 (6:53). But Saxton and Brittney Jones teamed up for six of the next eight points for a 36-32 lead (4:48). This would be extended to 39-34 as McHenry would knock down another three (3:27). Then following another three by UST (1:10), McHenry (0:10) shot a three-pointer to give ETBU a 42-37 margin after three.
 
In the first part of the fourth quarter, ETBU would keep a lead of around five to six points for a little over three minutes before two Meeks layups (5:57, 4:45) would give ETBU a 50-40 lead. But UST would not go away quietly as they stormed back with ten straight points (4:28-2:17) to tie the game at 50-50. Wilson (1:48) would give ETBU a 52-50 lead before UST would make it 53-52 (1:28) with a three-point play. Saxton would answer with one free throw (1:21) and UST's last chance to win the game was no good. So the game went into overtime tied at 53.
 
In their first overtime game of this season, ETBU would take an early 56-54 lead (2:43) as a free throw by Katy Boren (4:27) and a Wilson layup (2:43) converted. Then after Childress would make a jumper (1:54) for a four-point lead at 58-54, STU tied the game with four straight points (1:23-0:34). ETBU would get the ball and after a missed layup, Meeks was fouled grabbed the rebound. She would make one-of-two (0:06) for a one-point lead at 59-58. STU would get the ball, but would turn it over when they stepped out of bounds. McCoy was then fouled and she would make two free throws (0:01) for a 61-58 lead. This would be all as ETBU hung on for the win.
 
ETBU will face #2 Wartburg College on Saturday at 7:00 PM for the right to go to the NCAA Division III Final Four.