Box Score Los Angeles, Calif. – Kahla Becken drained a three-pointer with 2.9 seconds remaining to give North Dakota State a 64-61 victory over UC Irvine in the championship game of the LA Westside Doubletree Thanksgiving Classic at Gersten Pavilion.
The Anteaters go to 4-3 overall, while the Bison even their record at 3-3. UCI entered the game shooting 71.9 percent from the line on the year, but were just 14-22 (63.6) from the stripe.
Camille Buckley led UCI with 15 points and six rebounds, while Kelly Meggs and Jennifer Tsurumoto had 14 points apiece. Meggs also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds to go with her season-high in points. Methlyn Onogomuho added nine points and eight rebounds and Lauren Spinazze had six points.
Buckley and Tsurumoto were named to the all-tournament team.
Marena Whittle and Miki Stephenson led North Dakota State with 14 points each followed by Kahla Becken with12 points.
UCI led by five on three occasions, the last 10-5 on a Kelly Meggs layup with 16:11 to go in the first half. North Dakota State would score seven straight to take the 15-13 advantage at 14:02. UCI would close to 19-18 on a three-pointer by Lauren Spinazze, but UCI would never catch the Bison and would trail 26-24 at the half.
Camille Buckley would start the half with two free throws then Lauren Spinazze would hit a three-pointer to give UCI a 29-26 advantage with 18:36 to play. The teams would be tied for the sixth time when Miki Stephenson drained a three-pointer to knot the score at 43-43 with 8:51 left to play. Jen Tsurumoto returned the favor with a three-pointer of her own and Camille Buckey had a two-foot bank to put the Anteaters on top 48-43 at 8:05. The Bison would record back-to-back threes to go ahead 49-48 at 6:11. Following a pair of Tsurumoto free throws, NDSU would hit consecutive baseline jumpers and two free throws to extend the lead to 55-50 at 3:02 Buckley had a basket down low at 2:34 (55-52). Hannah Breske hit a jumper with 1:06 left and after missing the shot the Anteaters were forced to foul and Brooke LeMer made two free throws (59-53) with 49.seconds to go. Following two Tsurumoto free throws, LeMar was fouled again and missed the second (60-55). Two free throws by Methlyn Onogomuho was followed by an offensive foul on the Bison, putting Tsurumoto on the line where she made one of two (60-58) with 23.4 left. Stephenson was fouled and made the second of two free throws before Kelly Meggs hit a three-pointer to tie the game with 13.8 left. Becken would hit the game-winner from beyond the arc on the left side with 2.9 seconds remaining.
UCI will travel to the Montana Tournament next Friday and Saturday (Dec. 6-7) facing Appalachian State in the opening game.
All-Tournament Team
Brooke Lemar, NDSU - MVP
Miki Stephenson, NDSU
Camille Buckley, UC Irvine
Jennifer Tsurumoto, UC Irvine
Sophie Taylor, LMU
Torry Hill, Montana
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