FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Down three with one second on the clock, the University of Michigan-Dearborn women's basketball team executed a thrilling finish to regulation to push the contest to overtime against Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference leader No. 3 Indiana Tech Saturday in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Junior Laekyn Jaciuk threw a pass over midcourt from the end line to sophomore Cydney Williams, who received the ball and turned to fire a 35-foot 3-pointer to tie the game at 73-73, sending the Wolverine bench into a frenzy.
After No. 23 UM-Dearborn took a four-point lead early in the extra frame, Indiana Tech chipped away and led 78-77 late in overtime. Jaciuk was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with six seconds to go and hit 2-of-3 from the line to put UM-Dearborn in front by one.
The Warriors took the ensuing inbound quickly up court as Bella Lozano-Dobbs tossed a pass to the corner, finding Kyra Whitaker, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer as time expired, giving Indiana Tech the 81-79 win.
The loss drops UM-Dearborn to 20-5 overall and 12-4 in the WHAC. The Wolverines fall to third place in the standings, a half-game behind Aquinas College with four games left on the conference slate.
The Wolverines were led by Ro'Zhane Wells with 19 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double. Lauryn Carroll hit three 3-pointers and finished with 17 points, while Sade Lemons added 16 points and six rebounds. Jaciuk added 13 points off the bench.
UM-Dearborn shot 28-of-87 from the field, 8-of-25 from deep and 15-of-17 from the line, while outrebounding the Warriors 53-44.
Alexis Hill scored a game-high 26 points for Indiana Tech, while Kendall Knapke added a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Wolverines play their final road game of the regular season against Cornerstone University at 5:30 pm Wednesday in Grand Rapids.
