SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team held a two-point lead early in overtime, but Sioux Falls outscored the Dragons 13-6 the rest of the period to earn a 76-71 win over the Dragons in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Friday night in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Dragons fell to 7-8 overall and 6-5 in the NSIC with the loss, while Sioux Falls improved to 12-3 overall and 8-3 in the league. It is the first time the Cougars have beaten MSUM in the short series between the two teams (the Dragons led 3-0 going into the game).

Junior guard Meghan Roehrich led MSUM with 20 points, while junior forward Savanna Handevidt had 15. Junior forward Heather Strese had nine points and eight rebounds. Redshirt freshman forward Drew Sannes had nine rebounds, while sophomore guard Natalie Van Wyhe had four assists. Sophomore guard Morgan Banasik had three assists and three steals to go with eight points.

MSUM shot 40.9 percent (27-of-66) from the field compared to 38.7 percent (24-of-62) for the Cougars. USF hit 19-of-31 free throws compared to 8-of-16 for MSUM.  Sioux Falls had a 48-37 edge in rebounds.

The Dragons trailed by four in the final minute of regulation but a three-pointer by Roehrich cut the lead to 62-61 with 44 seconds left. The Cougars hit 1-of-2 free throws with 13 seconds left to push the lead to 63-61.

Van Wyhe converted a layup with four seconds left to tie the game at 63-63. USF was unable to get a shot off to conclude regulation to send the game to overtime.

Banasik put the Dragons up 65-63 in overtime with a basket 34 seconds into the extra frame. The Cougars scored the next six points to take a 69-65 lead. Roehrich hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 69-67 with 2:19 left.

The Cougars scored the next three points to push the lead to five. MSUM closed within three once more but got no closer.
MSUM faced a 13-point deficit (44-31) with 16:14 left but scored 12 points in a row – with five coming from Roehrich – to cut the lead to 44-43 with 12:12 left.

The Dragons faced a 53-45 deficit with 8:33 left but battled back again with a 13-4 run to take a 58-57 lead --- their only lead of the half – with 2:35 left. The lead lasted 20 seconds as the Cougars hit a three-pointer to regain the lead, setting up the crazy finish in the final minute.

The Dragons faced a 21-13 deficit nine minutes into the game but cut the lead to 30-26 with 55 seconds left in the half on a three by Roehrich. They trailed 32-26 at halftime. Roehrich had eight first-half points for MSUM while Handevidt had seven.  The Dragons shot just 31 percent (9-of-29) in the first half while the Cougars hit 34.6 percent of their attempts.

MSUM concludes the weekend at Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. Game time is 5 p.m. in Marshall, Minn.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game: Tonight was the first NSIC overtime game for the Dragons since winning at Bemidji State 95-93 in triple overtime on Feb. 11, 2012.