Beacons Fall in Overtime to Milwaukee
The Valpo women’s basketball team looked to be on the verge of its first victory of the season at the ARC Sunday afternoon against Milwaukee after Mikayla Huffine (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran [Quincy/Iowa Western C.C.]) hit a pair of free throws with 3.4 seconds to play to give the Beacons the lead, but the visiting Panthers split a pair of foul shots with 0.6 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime and came out 72-67 victors in the extra session.
How It Happened
– Milwaukee pushed what was a three-point lead with 10 minutes to play to five twice in the fourth quarter, but both times Valpo responded — the second time by rattling off six straight points, capped by a floater from Autumn Dibb (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) to put the Beacons in front 53-52 with 4:20 to play.
– The Panthers responded to regain the lead on their next possession and pushed their lead to three points twice in the final two minutes. Valpo came back immediately with a bucket both times, as first Mor Shabtai (Tel Aviv, Israel/Tichonet) and then Dibb answered, the latter making it a 59-58 Milwaukee lead with 41 seconds remaining.
– The Beacons got a stop on the defensive end, and after taking a timeout to advance the ball, put the ball in the hands of Huffine. The senior put her head down, got fouled while shooting with 3.4 seconds to go and calmly connected on both to make it 60-59 Beacons.
– After the Panthers advanced the ball with a timeout, the Beacons were called for a shooting foul with 0.6 seconds remaining. Grace Lomen knocked down the first to tie the game, but came up short on the second to send the game to overtime.
– It took nearly half the extra period to knock the lid off the baskets, but after Milwaukee knocked down a 3-pointer to open the scoring, Shabtai responded with a triple of her own to tie things up at 63-63 with 2:18 to go in overtime.
– The Panthers followed with a score on the ensuing possession to take the lead for good. Kylie Waytashek (Royalton, Minn./Royalton) converted a layup with 54 seconds remaining to make it a one-point game, but Milwaukee hit two free throws on its next trip and the Beacons missed a pair of chances near the rim as the Panthers closed it out.
– Milwaukee opened the game on an 8-0 run over the first 3:34 of action before Valpo gave up just two points over a stretch of four-plus minutes to close back to a one-possession game. The Panthers led 14-10 at the end of the opening quarter.
– Valpo’s defense recorded five straight stops to start the second quarter to help open the period on an 8-0 run, as Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) hit a 3-pointer and Shabtai scored five points to give Valpo an 18-14 lead with 7:17 to play in the half.
– Milwaukee scored seven straight to regain the lead in a back-and-forth period which featured five lead changes and three ties. When the dust settled, a hook shot inside of 30 seconds remaining in the half from Milana Nenadic (Kitchener, Ontario/Cameron Heights [Idaho State/Maine]) had the Beacons in front 31-29 at halftime.
– The third quarter was another back-and-forth stanza with five ties and five lead changes. Neither squad led by more than one possession over the final five minutes of the period, with Milwaukee eventually carrying a 48-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
Inside the Game
– Sunday’s game was Valpo’s home opener — the Beacons will be away from home for their next four games, not returning home to the ARC until Dec. 7.
– Valpo took Milwaukee to overtime after the last six meetings in the series had all been double-digit wins for the Panthers.
– The Beacons have dropped each of their last four games to go to overtime — the program’s last overtime win came at Evansville in February 2022.
– A balanced Beacon offense was led by a strong effort off the bench from Allia von Schlegell (Downers Grove, Ill./Nazareth). The freshman set season highs with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. The MVC leader in 3-point percentage entering the game, von Schlegell hit 3-of-7 from deep on Sunday.
– Valpo’s second-leading scorer also came off the bench, as Kamryn Winch (Bonne Terre, Mo./North County [Maryville]) recorded career bests with 12 points and 12 rebounds, securing her first collegiate double-double.
– The Beacons’ bench outscored Milwaukee’s by a 36-16 count.
– Shabtai scored in double figures for the first time in her collegiate career, finishing with 11 points to surpass her previous high of eight points — accomplished twice in the first three games this season.
– Nenadic scored in double figures for the second straight game, rounding out the quartet of Beacons in double digits as she tallied 10 points.
– Dibb notched seven points and seven rebounds, both season highs.
– Valpo won the battle of the boards for the first time this season, 44-42.
– The Beacons handed out a season-best 18 assists on 23 made baskets and had a positive assist/turnover ratio, committing just 17 turnovers. Valpo’s turnover total dropped for the third straight game.
Next Up
Valpo (0-4) returns to the road Friday night, as the Beacons trek to Vermillion, S.D. to play at South Dakota at 7 p.m.