GRANVILLE, Ohio – Sometimes a story finds a way to write itself.

After dropping its first two meetings against No. 23 Denison University, the Allegheny College women's basketball team used the last millisecond to get revenge when senior guard Jessica Mrdjenovichburied a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Gators a 66-65 victory over the Big Red in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) semifinals this evening.

In a reversal of fortune, Mrdjenovich's trifecta found nothing but net for Allegheny (15-12, 8-8 NCAC) just six days after a game-tying attempt glanced off the rim on Senior Day against Denison (23-4, 15-1 NCAC). Along with her heroics, the senior from the Steel City gained entry to the program's 1,000-point club with a three-pointer in the fourth quarter.

There was a certain aura in the air prior to the showdown between the Gators and Big Red as second-seeded DePauw University defeated third-seeded Kenyon College with its own trifecta at triple zero. Most spectators at Livingston Gymnasium had probably not seen many game-winning baskets in their lifetimes, but the ones who both contests were fortunate to see two.

After spending her entire career in the shallow end, senior forward Kaitlyn Fromknecht waded out to the international waters and provided the Gators with two three-pointers in the first half. Fromknecht's first came at the midway point of the first quarter when she was left unmarked following a drive by classmate Emma Pellicano. That sparked a 9-0 run to close the frame with the aforementioned Fromknecht, senior guard Rachel Vigliotti, and freshman forward Olivia Barkleymaking contributions.

Allegheny kept the momentum going by forcing a 10-second call on the Big Red to begin the second quarter. After Denison trimmed the gap to two, Barkley answered with a jumper from the left elbow. The Big Red's Jordan Holmes followed that up with a jump shot of her own, but Barkley responded by burying a three-pointer from the top of the key with the shot clock running down to make it 16-11 Gators.

The rookie from Elizabeth, Pa. provided Allegheny with another basket after two Holmes free throws, kickstarting a 7-0 stretch that also featured a jumper from Mrdjenovich and second trifecta from Fromknecht. However, the Big Red fought back with an 11-2 run that pulled it within one at 25-24. Pellicano's jumper in the paint made it a three-point game again, but Denison closed the frame with a bucket from the baseline to set the halftime score at 27-26 Allegheny.

The game continued its back-and-forth theme in the third quarter with the Gators holding their one-point edge at 39-38. Pellicano opened the frame with a jumper over traffic, but the Big Red held serve and eventually tied it at up 45-all. After the senior forward followed that up with a double-clutch layup, Denison's Taylor Lindquist sank a three-pointer to give Denison a 48-47 advantage.

A left-handed floater by Mrdjenovich pushed Allegheny back in front, but that lead was short-lived after two free throws by the Big Red. The Gators kept chomping back with another foul line jump shot from Pellicano, and then Mrdjenovich picked up her milestone point at the top of the key with 2:26 remaining in regulation to make it 54-50.

Denison regrouped and scored four consecutive points to deadlock the score at 54-54. A pair of freebies by Lindquist put the Big Red back in front, but with 2.8 seconds left in the frame Pellicano's layup in traffic sent the contest to overtime.

Holmes began the extra stanza with a couple of foul shots, but Mrdjenovich responded by following her own miss to make it 58-58. The charity stripe continued to see action as Denison sank three more freebies and Barkley tallied or of her own, making the score 61-60 in favor of the hosts.

Allegheny used its patented full-court press to gain another 10-second call on the ensuing possession and followed that up with a Pellicano bucket from the right elbow. Freshman guard Candaisy Crawford then sank a mid-range jumper of her own with 2:06 remaining to make it 64-61.

The Big Red settled down after a timeout and earned a pair of free throws on their next possession. Denison used that momentum to force a turnover on the defensive end, and received a big jump shot from Gaby Mehringer with 49 seconds left to take a 65-64 lead.

Another Gator miss was corralled by Holmes and the NCAC's all-time leading rebounder was sent to the chalk for two shots with 13 seconds remaining. She left the door open by making just one and Allegheny called a timeout with the ball on its baseline as the scoreboard read 66-64 Big Red.

The scenario every basketball-playing kid has played out in their blacktop driveway came to life in front of the Gators bench when the ball found Mrdjenovich's hands with the clock ticking down. And just like every kid had pictured it in their own lives, the senior found the bottom of the net and sent her team home a winner.

Pellicano was one of four players in double-figures for Allegheny, leading the way with 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Mrdjenovich added 12, while Barkley and Fromknecht scored 11 and 10, respectively.

Holmes tallied 22 points, 28 rebounds, and seven blocks for Denison.

Allegheny will attempt to bring home its first NCAC Tournament championship in 27 years tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. when it faces DePauw.