Whitman College athletics photo

Whitman earned itself a good night’s rest and a place in NCAA Division III women’s basketball history with an 85-81 triple-overtime victory over UW-Eau Claire in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament.

• First round scoreboard: Men | Women
• First round recaps: Men | Women
• Tournament brackets: Men | Women
• Game of the night: Coverage to come
• More headlines: Men | Women

Prior to Friday night’s marathon, there had been five double-overtime games in NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament history but never a triple-overtime finish. Box score

There were early indications that the Blues and Blugolds would need extra time to decide who would advance to the second round of the Tournament as neither team could gain a double-digit advantage.

Whitman held a one-point lead at the end of the first half and the Blues’ advantage was still just one at 44-43 entering the fourth quarter. Natalie Lundberg’s three pointer extended Whtiman’s lead to 51-45 early in that period but UW-Eau Claire responded with a 7-0 run and went in front 52-51 on Courtney Crunch’s layup.

Lundberg gave Whitman another a two-possession lead with a three pointer that put the Blues up, 56-52. The Blues clung to a 58-55 lead with less than a minute to play in regulation when the Blugolds called time out. They got the ball to All-American guard Jessie Ruden who missed a game-tying three but got fouled on the defensive close out. Ruden hit all three free throws, with the last two hitting the rim a few times before dropping through. With the game tied at 58, Whitman had two chances to win on its final possession, but a driving layup went awry, and a baseline jumper was off the mark.

Neither team could gain an advantage in the first overtime. Bailey Reardon made two free throws to put UW-Eau Claire in front 64-62, Carly Martin answered with a three that put Whitman back in front, and then Lindsay Drango added a free throw to extend the Blues lead to 66-64 with 33 seconds remaining. On the Blugolds final possession, Crouch was fouled at the top of the key with 1.5 seconds left. She made both free throws to tie the game at 66, and the game went to a second overtime.

In the final minute of the second overtime, Whitman held a 74-72 lead with 55 seconds remaining. Kylie Strop grabbed a defensive rebound for UW-Eau Claire and was fouled. She made both free throws to tie the game at 74, and then the Blues turned the ball over. Strop struck again, scoring a layup that put the Blugolds up 76-74 with six seconds left. After Whitman called timeout to advance the ball, Elena McHargue hit a hanging jumper in the lane at the buzzer to force a third overtime.

With fatigue setting in for both teams, the Blues scored the first five points of triple overtime and led 81-76. Kyla Overskei sank two free throws that brought the Blugolds back within a point at 82-81 with 22 seconds remaining. Drango was fouled on Whitman’s next possession and she made two free throws, taking the lead back to three. On its next possession, UW-Eau Claire turned the ball over on an offensive foul while trying to set up a three-point attempt. Korin Baker split two free throws on Whitman’s possession to finally put the game out of reach.

Carly Martin led Whitman with 19 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Drango had 16 points, including eight late free throws, and Lundberg netted 10 points and seven rebounds in 55 minutes for Whitman (22-5).

After not attempting a free throw through the end of regulation, Whitman went 16 for 29 from the line during the three overtime periods.

Ruden scored 22 points in 55 minutes for UW-Eau Claire. Crouch and Reardon also scored double figures for the Blugolds (20-9) before fouling out.

Whitman advances to play regional host University of Chicago on Saturday night. The Maroons had a much easier time in their first-round game, defeating Northwestern (Minn.) 63-48 in regulation.