WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Carroll Pioneers, after leading for the majority of the game and by as many as 18 points, found themselves in a situation where they needed three points in six seconds to bring Carthage to overtime. A deep three at the buzzer from Carroll's Brooke Foster sent the game to extra time with the score knotted at 69-69, and the Pioneers held serve at home to stun the Firebirds. Carthage's valiant comeback attempt against the No. 2 team in the conference standings fell just short. 



 

• Final score: Carroll 82, Carthage 75. 
• Location: Van Male Field House - Waukesha, Wisconsin. 
• Records: Carthage 9-10 (5-5 CCIW), Carroll 12-6 (7-2 CCIW)

• Carroll got off to a blazing start, opening up the first quarter on a 13-0 run. Carthage's first points came at the 6:30 mark, as Marianna Morrissey hit a pair of free throws to end the drought. The first quarter ended with the Pios ahead 24-8. 
• Carroll took twice as many shots as Carthage did in the first ten minutes of action, aided by a +9 rebounding margin and five steals. 
• The Pioneers took their largest lead of the night at 18 at the start of the second quarter before Carthage responded with an 8-3 run. Carthage and Carroll traded baskets for the remainder of the quarter, as the Firebirds cut the Pio lead to 12, with the score set at 35-23 heading into the locker room break. Five different Firebirds scored in the quarter, showing a balanced scoring attack. 
• In the first two minutes of the second half, six field goals were made. Carthage's defense tightened up midway through the quarter and its' offense subsequently thrived; the Firebirds would go on a 13-0 run to get within two, fueled by excellent ball and player movement. 
• The Pios scored the last basket of the third quarter to go back in front by four, leading 49-45 as the fourth quarter was set to begin. The Firebirds shot 43% from long range in the quarter and shot 75% from the charity stripe en route to winning the quarter 22-14. 
• A quick three from Carroll pushed its advantage to seven before the Firebirds countered with a three from Knight and a pair of Ester free throws. Destiny Antoine continued her excellent play, scoring on a layup midway through the final quarter to bring her point total to 14. 
• An Ester three-pointer finally evened the score with four minutes remaining, with the contest knotted at 59 apiece. Carthage surged again and retook the lead on a Pakaski pull-up jumper and a Spear free throw, going ahead 67-63. 
• Carroll, as good teams often do, had one more push left and would send the game to overtime with a free throw and a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Brooke Foster; the three gave Foster 23 points on the night. Carthage and Carroll went into overtime with the score at 69-69. 
• The Pios would go ahead by three with two minutes remaining in overtime during a trip to the free throw line, and Carthage failed to close that gap. The home team won in an overtime thriller 82-75. 
• Carroll shot 50% from the floor in the victory and led for 85.6% of the game, leading by as many as 18. This was Carthage's first overtime game of the season. 

 

• Marianna Morrissey was productive once again, putting up an admirable 17/9/5/1/1 stat line on 60% shooting. Morrissey also drilled all five of her free throw attempts. 
• It was an excellent night for Destiny Antoine off the bench, as the veteran forward scored 14 points on 5-8 shooting. Antoine also collected six rebounds. 
• Margueret Spear stole three passes tonight while scoring nine points and gathering five rebounds. 

 

• Women's hoops plays Wheaton (Ill.) for the second time in as many weeks, hosting the Thunder on Saturday, January 28 beginning at 2 p.m.