HAWKS FALL SHORT IN TRIPLE-OT THRILLER

FORT DODGE, Iowa – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team was back traveling on Wednesday night as they headed to Fort Dodge, Iowa to take on Iowa Central Community College. The Hawks came up just short in the contest by a final score of 92-86 in triple overtime.

The Hawks (12-7, 5-4 ICCAC) trailed in the showdown by as much as 17 points before storming back to tie the ballgame in the final minute of the contest. Analyssa Maldonado (Sunnyside, Wash.) was huge for Northeast as her 31 points were big to bring the Hawks back to life. Multiple players were in and out of the lineup for the Hawks on the night, but Northeast would not let that stop them from battling with the Tritons through the entire game.

Both teams managed to score just five points in the first overtime period, but the ending to the first overtime was just as thrilling as the end to regulation. Northeast put on a rebounding clinic in the final few seconds of the first overtime as Maldonado missed a 3-pointer and Marta Pons (Sevilla, Spain) grabbed the rebound before missing a jumper. Stevi Fallis (Pine Ridge, S.D.) pulled down that rebound before firing a three-point shot of her own that missed. Fallis followed her shot, secured the rebound and passed the ball out to Maldonado who finally put a trey through the hoop. The Hawks played sound defense on the next possession to send the game to double overtime.

The second overtime featured more furious scoring as both teams put in 12 more points to add to the already high totals of the night. Northeast was outscored 12-5 by Iowa Central in the third overtime as the Tritons came away with the win in a game that neither team will forget for a long time.

STAT SHEET:

Analyssa Maldonado (Sunnyside, Wash.): 31 PTS, 5 REB, 4 STL

Stevi Fallis (Pine Ridge, S.D.): 19 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST

Alexis Bliven (Holdrege, Neb.): 8 PTS, 4 REB, 6 STL

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head women's basketball coach Matt Svehla over overcoming adversity to extend the game:

"We got a bit banged up with Allison (Richards) going out early and Stevi (Fallis), Analyssa (Maldonado) and Sharissa (Haas) also needing to leave the game at times," Svehla said. "We had a good comeback to get the game into OT."

Svehla on where the game was lost:

"We could've gotten out of there with a win in overtime had we made our free throws," Svehla said. "We were 10-22 on the night from the line, which makes it really hard to win."

UP NEXT:

Northeast will be back home for the Northeast Athletics Hall of Fame Game at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk against No. 1 Kirkwood Community College. Inductees from the Northeast Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will be introduced at halftime of the men's game that will follow the women's game at 3 p.m.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS:

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