(Carlisle, Pa.) – In one of most thrilling games ever played in the Kline Center, the Dickinson women's basketball team outlasted visiting Muhlenberg College, 74-71, in triple-overtime on Thursday night. The Red Devils overcame a four-point deficit in the third extra-frame and held on to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial Conference.
Junior Kassidy Lesher had a monster game, recording a double-double with 20 points and 20 rebounds on the night, adding four blocked shots. Senior Mary Martin tallied a double-double as well, scoring 15 points to go with 19 rebounds and five steals while going 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Both totals rank in the top 10 for single-game rebounds in program history while Martin's 10 offensive boards ranks fourth all-time as well.
The Red Devils jumped out to an early advantage and held the lead throughout almost the entire game. Martin hit a pair of free throws to put Dickinson in front, 15-8, at the end of the first quarter.
Muhlenberg came back in the second to tie the game, 15-15, before the Devils closed out the half with a 7-3 run to lead, 22-18 at the break.
The third proved to be the most offensive of the night as the Devils outscored the Mules 17-13, to head into the fourth quarter with a 39-31 advantage, on back-to-back field-goals by Martin. Junior Mairead Donahue came on to give the Devils a big spark in the third as well.
The Mules cut the deficit to a field-goal with 6:09 remaining in regulation. First-year Lauren McBride hit a pair of free throws before back-to-back buckets from Muhlenberg tied the game with just over four minutes on the clock.
The Mules continued the run, taking their first lead of the game and going up by four with just 2:35 to play. Lesher knocked-down a pair of free throws and first-year Hannah Heiring made a clutch steal to give Dickinson possession.
Heiring then buried a huge three-pointer off a dish from junior Mackenzie Skerritt to put the Devils back on top. Brandi Vallely answered with a three-pointer on the other end to give Muhlenberg a 48-46 lead, with 1:40 left to play.
Senior guard Helen Roberts drew a foul and knocked-down both free throws to pull the Devils even.
Dickinson held on defense and Lesher grabbed the rebound with just over a minute to play. McBride lost the ball, but with a heads-up play at mid-court, stole it back to give the Devils a new possession with no shot clock.
The Devils drained the clock and looked for a final shot but it was off the mark, sending the game into overtime. Roberts banged a three-pointer to start the extra-frame before the Mules countered with a lay-up and three-pointer to lead, 53-51.
Roberts earned one back with a free throw and Martin controlled a rebound on the other end. Martin came up with another big rebound on the offensive end, scoring and drawing a foul. She converted the free throw to put Dickinson back in front, 55-53, with 1:39 on the clock.
Martin added another rebound and two free throws to extend the lead to four. Emilie Benton countered with a triple and the Mules fouled Martin, sending her to the stripe once again. She calmly drained both ends with seven seconds on the clock.
Muhlenberg was able to automatically advance the ball to mid-court with an immediate timeout to set up a final play. They went to junior Christina Manning, who hit a three-pointer, sending the game into a second overtime.
Lesher was still going strong in the second extra frame, sandwiching a pair of scores around a lay-up from Carley Hamilton and adding a free throw to make the score, 64-61, with 2:07 to play in the period.
The Mules had to settle for a lay-up but came up with a steal to have a chance to take the lead. Lesher made a great read and stepped in to steal an entry pass, forcing Muhlenberg to foul Roberts with just four seconds left.
Roberts hit both end to stretch the lead to three, once again. Muhlenberg had one more miracle, however, as Vallely sank a three with just eight-tenths of a second remaining. Skerritt had a solid attempt a half-court shot, but the game would head to the third overtime.
Muhlenberg gained the early advantage this time as Emily O'Mahoney hit a three-pointer on the Mules' first possession. Vallely hit a lay-up to answer a free throw from Lesher to put Muhlenberg up, 71-67, at the two-minute mark.
Martin fed a nice dish to Lesher for a three-point play and hit a short jumper after Dickinson held on defense to put the Devils in front with 1:05 remaining. The teams traded possessions with Muhlenberg taking over with 18 seconds left.
Senior Jennifer Smith came on and made a great defensive play, rejecting Vallely and grabbing the rebound. Roberts was fouled and gave the Devils another three-point lead with just over three seconds on the clock.
Vallely's final attempt was off the mark as time expired, giving the Devils their first win over the Mules since 2013, in one of the most dramatic games in program history.
In addition to the double-doubles from Martin and Lesher, Roberts finished with 17 points and five rebounds, hitting 7-of-8 free throw attempts. McBride tallied eight points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists, going 3-for-4 from the stripe. Heiring finished with six points and five rebounds, handing out three assists as well.
Vallely led all scorers with a game-high 26 points, adding six rebounds, five assists and five steals. Sara Dilly had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Muhlenberg falls to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Centennial Conference.
The Red Devils win their third consecutive overtime game to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference. They are on the road this weekend, traveling to Swarthmore College for a 1:00 pm tip-off with the Garnet.