Mann, oh Mann: Storm rally to down Dominican in OT

Bank shot turns Dixie State's fortunes around

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SAN DIEGO – A 10-point halftime lead and 17-point advantage with 17:05 seemed like distant memories for the Dixie State University women's basketball team after seeing themselves down six points with 58 seconds remaining in regulation. One lay-up, a steal and two of the biggest 3-point buckets of the year – including a Taylor Mann (Castle Dale, UT/Emery) bank shot from 25 feet out – sent the game into overtime.

On the heels of scoring the first nine points in the extra period, the Red Storm eliminated Dominican University of California from the Pacific West Conference Tournament, 99-86.

Mann's 3-pointer, her second of the year, capped off a rally in the final minute that also featured a triple from Miranda Moore (Coolidge, AZ/Coolidge), her first make from behind the arc this season.

Haley Holmstead (American Fork, UT/American Fork) led all Dixie State (14-13) scorers with 28 points. She had a perfect 12-of-12 night from the foul line. Mann, with 22 points and 18 rebounds, and Haileigh Emerine (Spanish Fork, UT/Spanish Fork), 11 points and 14 rebounds, each posted double double.

Dixie State gained control early in the first half with a 9-0 run. Holmstead sparked the rally with a pair of jumpers, Caroline Lantor (St. George, UT/Dixie) hit a jump shot and Kaylah Miller (San Diego, CA/La Jolla Country Day) ended the run with a 3-ball. The Storm's defense held Dominican (9-18) to 25 percent shooting from the floor in the opening 20 minutes.

A 37-27 halftime advantage ballooned to a 17-point lead after DSU scored the first seven points out of the locker room. The margin held until the 10:58 mark on a Mann lay-in.

Over the next 10 minutes, the Penguins dominated every aspect of the game – scoring, rebounding, and foul shooting. Salonika Queron-Owens scored 10 points in the Dominican 35-12 run to build a 78-72 lead under the one-minute mark. DSU ran ice-cold during the string – 4-of-15 shooting from the floor and committed six turnovers.

After the late heroics in regulation, Dixie State outscored the Penguins 9-0 in the opening 2:49 of overtime. The Storm hit three of their first five shots while Dominican missed their first six shots.

Dixie State shot 42.7 percent from the floor (32-75) for the game. The Storm dominated the glass in overtime (12-4) and bested the battle of the boards for the night, 64-52.

Quewon-Owens led all Dominican scorers with 18. Carly Holboke added 17 points and Jasmine Cox had 15.

Dixie State plays at 7:4m p.m. Pacific in the second semifinal against the league's regular-season champion and tournament top-seed, Academy of Art.

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