Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
North Dakota
'Cats beat UND 76-74; advances to WBI final four
3/21/2016 2:41:00 AM | Women's Basketball
GRAND FORKS, ND – Weber State came from behind to take down North Dakota 76-74 in the final seconds of the game to advance the Wildcats to the final four of the WBI Tournament.
"One of our primary focuses was protecting the paint and our group pulled together and took care of business," head coach Bethann Ord said. "In our prior two meetings with North Dakota this season they had scored 60 percent of their points around the rim. Tonight we held that number to 35 percent. We outscored them in the paint 42-26."
North Dakota started out with a 7-0 jump on Weber State and the Wildcats continued to trail for the majority of the first half trailing 35-31 at halftime.
With five minutes to go in the third quarter Weber State took a 45-44 lead. The first Wildcat lead in the game. Weber State continued to push going on a 7-2 run giving them a 52-46 lead over North Dakota. The Wildcats had a 61-54 lead going into the fourth and final quarter of play.
North Dakota came into the fourth with guns blazing scoring 15 points and holding the Wildcats to just eight points six minutes of play. The Fighting Hawks tied the game at 69-69 with just under four minutes left in the game.
Deeshyra Thomas sunk a three pointer to give the Wildcats a 74-72 lead with just 1:53 left in the game. A layup by UND's Mia Lloyd tied the game up with 45 seconds left. With 11 seconds on the clock Lloyd missed a jumper that was rebounded by Thomas. After a Wildcat timeout Thomas made a layup with three seconds left to give the Wildcats a 76-74 victory over the Fighting Hawks.
"It's hard playing a team three times in a season, but you get to know them well," Ord said. "Lloyd led them through a great season and had an outstanding career at North Dakota."
Thomas led the Wildcats with 30 points. The second time this season Thomas has scored 30 or more points in a game. Kailie Quinn had 24 points for the Wildcats going 4-6 from beyond the arc. Jaiamoni Welch-Coleman also scored in double figures putting up 10 for the Wildcats.
Jocelyn Adams had the game high of nine rebounds. Brittney Dunbar had a game high of seven assists and six steals.
"Deeshyra did a great job attacking the basket and finishing," Ord said. "Brittney had another great effort tonight and came up with the hustle stats. Quinn did great on defense holding Dyer scoreless on the night, along with her 24 points."
Weber State shot 47.7 from the field, 36 percent from the three and 87 percent from the free throw line. North Dakota shot 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three and 83 percent from the free throw line. UND had 35 rebounds to WSU's 32. Weber State only had nine turnovers to North Dakota's 12.
The Wildcats are now 22-11 overall on the season which is tied for the most wins in a single season in school history. Weber State has advanced to the final four of the WBI and will host USC Upstate at the Dee Events Center on Wednesday, March 23.
Youngstown State and Louisiana are the other two teams left in the tournament and will face off at Louisiana on March 23.
