Utah Tech University Athletics

Stan Plewe/Utah Tech Athletics

Women's Basketball 11/19/2011 10:11:00 PM Jeff Cluff, Coordinator of Media Relations

Overtime Madness, Hayes Leads Red Storm to 92-85 Win over Nebraska Kearney

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Junior guard Erica Hayes (East Palo Alto, CA/Menlo-Atherton) scored 10 of her game and career high 27 points in the overtime period to lead Dixie State College to a 92-85 win over University of Nebraska Kearney tonight at the Grand Canyon Tip-Off Classic.

With the Red Storm (3-1) trailing by three points and needing to go the length of the court in eight seconds, Hayes found freshman Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day) who hit a three-pointer at the end of regulation to force the overtime period.

Coach Angie Kristensen said, “Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day) hitting the game tying three was unbelievable for a freshman.”

Enter Hayes who would hit four out five shots, two of which were from behind the arc to lead DSC to the victory.

“Eric Hayes played the game of her life. This win showed me that we can come back from adversity and win close games,” continued Kristensen.

Early in the game, Nicole Harper (Malta, ID/Raft River) would hit on a jumper with 9:42 left in the first half to give the Red Storm a 21-16 advantage.

The Lopers (0-3) and the Red Storm would trade baskets for most of the first half; UNK would take a 41-39 lead into the locker room.

Two Becca Thomas (Riverside, CA/Redwood) free throws with 9:56 left in the second half tied the game at 57-57. DSC would then go on a 9-0 run to take a 66-57 lead with 7:37 left.

Nebraska Kearney would follow with a 12-2 run to take a 69-68 lead with 4:05 left.

After trading baskets over the next three minutes, Hayes would work her magic again, nailing a three pointer with 43 seconds left to give DSC a 77-76 lead.

For UNK, a Melissa Norman jumper with 32 seconds left gave them a 78-77 lead and Vanessa Leeper Jones hit two free throws with eight seconds left to give them an 80-77 lead and set up the last second effort by the Red Storm.

Thomas had 15 points and seven rebounds and Quorreah Joice added eight points and eight rebounds off the bench. DSC shot 38.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from behind the arc.

Leading the Lopers was Leeper Jones's double-double with 13 rebounds and team high 24 points. Debi Johnson scored 23 points and Norman added 10 points and seven rebounds. UNK shot 43.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

The Red Storm won the rebound battle 50-44 and forced UNK to commit 30 turnovers despite giving away 25 themselves.

Kristensen concluded, “I was very proud of our team and I'm happy to be 3-1 and coming home to the Burns Arena.”

Dixie State will host the Dixie State Thanksgiving Classic on Friday and Saturday at the Burns Arena. Academy of Art, Cal State Los Angeles and Western Oregon join the Red Storm in the two-day tournament. DSC will play Western Oregon on 5 p.m. on Friday and Cal State LA on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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