ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The No. 12 Minnesota State University Moorhead women's basketball team earned Karla Nelson's 300th career victory in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to take an 81-77 overtime win over St. Cloud State Friday night in St. Cloud.

Nelson, in her 17th season as the MSUM head coach, is the only Dragon women's basketball coach in school history to reach the 300-win plateau. She now has a career record of 300-180 and has recorded 17 straight winning seasons in her tenure.

MSUM improved to 22-3 overall and 19-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with the win, while St. Cloud State fell to 11-14 and 9-12 in the league.

The Dragons shot 46 percent (29-of-63) from the field, compared to 36.2 percent (25-of-69) for ST. Cloud State. MSUM had a 50-33 edge in rebounds which led to a 19-4 advantage in second-chance points.

How It Happened
MSUM trailed by as many as 10 in the second half but fought to get the game in overtime, with the score tied at 72-72. In the overtime, St. Cloud State scored first, but MSUM scored the next six points – four coming from freshman forward Morgan Ham – to take a 78-74 lead with 1:26 left.

The Huskies cut the lead to 78-77, but two free throws by sophomore guard Jacky Volkert put MSUM up three with 20 seconds left. St. Cloud State had a chance to tie but missed, and senior guard Natalie Van Wyhe hit a free throw with seven seconds left to put MSUM up four.

MSUM trailed 65-55 with 7:51 left but went on a 15-5 run over the next six minutes to take a 70-69 lead with 1:59 left. The Huskies' Betsy MacDonald hit a three-pointer to regain the lead, but junior forward Drew Sannes hit two free throws to tie the game at 72-72.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation but couldn't make the shot.

Impact Performances
Sannes finished with her 12th double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds. She was 8-of-16 from the field.

Volkert had 21 points and a career-high 12 assists, just one away from the school record of 13 held by Krista Opheim and Lisa Clark.

Ham had 13 points and eight rebounds while Van Wyhe had 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists, all season-highs.

Junior Cassidy Thorson had seven points and four rebounds.

Up next
MSUM wraps up the regular-season on Saturday at Minnesota Duluth. Tipoff is at 4 p.m.

Steve d'Eustachio Stat of the Game
Here is a breakdown as head coach Karla Nelson captured her 300th win tonight:
--208 in the NSIC, 79 non-conference, 12 in the NSIC tournament, 1 in the NCAA tournament
--159 at home, 117 away, 24 neutral
--29 wins vs. Bemidji St. (most NSIC)
--9 wins vs. Valley City St. (most non-conference)
--13-9 in overtime games