Kocer, Benson lead Cougar women to UMAC home win
(Pictured Right-Tynell Kocer)
For Immediate Release: January 15th, 2008 – Alaina Benson (Sr. Clinton, Minn.) tossed in a game high 21 points and Tynell Kocer’s (Sr. Pierre, S.D.) basket with 14 seconds left in the second overtime lifted the Cougars women to a thrilling 88-86 double-overtime win on Friday January 11th at the UMM P.E. Center in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action.
Kocer gave UMM their first lead of the game knocking down a three-pointer at 17:41 to make it a 3-2 game.
After a lay-up from Alaina Benson: 25 seconds later gave the Cougars the lead at 5-2, Kocer followed with another three to put Minnesota, Morris in front 8-2.
Benson extended the Cougar lead to six at 14-6 with a three-pointer of her own with 13:31 left in the opening half.
BLC then went on a 13-5 run and battled back to tie the game at 19-19 and then tied the game again at 21 all with five and a half minutes remaining in the first half.
After the Vikings took a one point lead at 24-23 a short time later, the Cougars used a 6-0 scoring run to grab a 29-25 lead after a Benson three with 3:38 to go before the break.
Bethany got a pair of free throws late in the half to make the score 33-30 at the half.
The Vikings would take a couple of one point leads early in the second half, the last at 43-42 at the 14:20 mark.
Minnesota, Morris would then open up a 13 point lead at 59-46 with 5:39 to play in regulation after a Coresa Leighty (Jr. New Ulm, Minn.) lay-up to cap off a 17-3 run.
A 17-4 run by BLC over the final five minutes of the second half tied the game at 63-63 at the end of regulation to force the first overtime frame.
In the first overtime period, there would be four ties in the first 2:30 before BLC would take a four point lead at 76-72 with just: 28 ticks left on the clock and appeared headed to a big road win.
But a lay-up by freshman Diane Blommel (Grey Eagle, Minn.) made it a one possession game at 76-74 with: 23 seconds left in the overtime.
The Vikings again took a four point lead at 78-74 with a pair of Casey Gudahl free-throws, but Marissa Maynard’s three-pointer made it a 78-77 game with: 15 seconds left in the OT.
Gudahl connected on the second of two free-throws with: 12 seconds left to give the Vikings a 79-77lead.
But with time running out, Kristie Swenstad (So. Osakis, Minn.) was fouled and went to the line with no time remaining on the clock and UMM down by two.
She calmly sank both free-throws to tie the score at 79-79 and send the game into another five minute extra period.
Both teams scored 16 points in the first overtime.
With both teams running out of gas a bit as the scoring would show. UMM scored nine points in the second overtime to seven for the Vikings and went on to the two point double OT win.
Bethany Lutheran took a three point lead at 82-79 with 3:24 left in the second overtime and once again had the momentum and looked on the verge of picking up the win.
But the Cougars scored BLC 9-to-4 to end the game and when Tynell Kocer dropped in a lay-up with 14 seconds left, the Cougars led 88-86.
The Vikings got off a desperation shot at the buzzer that was off the mark and UMM escaped with the win.
Alaina Benson led all scorers with 21 points, 12 of those coming on a 4-for-9 effort from three point range.
Tynell Kocer added 20, Marissa Maynard 18 off the bench and Coresa Leighty 14.
Minnesota-Morris held the Vikings to just 29 percent shooting from the floor for the game.
The Cougars (6-5, 2-0 UMAC) won the game despite being out shot at the free-throw line. BLC scored 37 of their 86 points at the line (37-53). UMM was 12-of-16 from the charity stripe.
The game featured 15 lead changes and nine ties.
 | .gif) |
| Minnesota-Morris | 33 | 30 | 25 | 88 |
| Bethany Lutheran | 30 | 33 | 23 | 86 |
Box Score
