For the first time this season, the No. 12 Benedictine women's basketball team found themselves in an overtime game.
After trailing by six points at the break, Benedictine (27-5) outscored Central Methodist University (25-6) 36-30 in the second half to force overtime only to have CMU score 19 points in the overtime period to earn the upset over Benedictine 78-70 in the HAAC Postseason Tournament semifinals.
The first half saw three ties and five lead changes, with CMU leading by as much as 13 points with one minute and 48 seconds left in the half.
Benedictine outscored CMU 7-2 over the remainder of the half to cut their deficit to six points, 29-23, at the half.
CMU limited Benedictine to just eight field goals in the first half while converting 11 field goals themselves.
Benedictine's offensive run continued into the second half and was capped off by a 3-pointer from guard Justice Payne (Jr., Stillwater, Okla.) that tied the game at 31 points with 16 minutes and 51 seconds remaining in the game.
By the mid-point of the second half, CMU has pushed its advantage back to double figures.
Trailing 53-41 with nine minutes and 47 seconds left in the game, Benedictine outscored CMU 18-6 to send the game into the overtime period.
In the second half, Benedictine hit 13 field goals and went 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.
CMU hit 12 free throws in the overtime period after jumping out to a 5-0 lead and outscored Benedictine 19-11 in overtime to earn a trip to the HAAC Postseason Tournament championship game on Tuesday against top-seeded and No. 9-ranked MNU.
Benedictine outscored CMU 15-13 off turnovers but CMU held a 32-22 advantage in the paint and a 11-7 advantage on second-chance points.
Benedictine finished with four players in double figures while CMU finished with five in double figures.
Payne scored 17 points, hitting 5 3-pointers while forward Erin Murphy (Sr., Olathe) added 13 points. Guard Jackie Ziesel (Soph., St. Joseph, Mo.) added 12 points off the bench while guard Kelsey Anselmi (Sr., Olathe) added 10 points.
Kyra Williams led all scorers with 19 points for CMU, going 13 of 14 from the charity stripe
Benedictine now waits for the results of Tuesday's championship game between CMU and MNU.
Should MNU win the tournament title, Benedictine would get the second automatic berth in the NAIA Div. I National Tournament as the second-place regular season team. If CMU upsets MNU for the second automatic berth, Benedictine would earn an at-large bid.
