The University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball team completed an almost improbable late fourth quarter comeback tonight to swat their way past the Emporia State Lady Hornets 76-70 and move on to the NCAA Central Region Semifinals. UMD improves to 14-1 on the season and will play Nebraska Kearney tomorrow at 7:45 PM CT.
 
Bulldog junior Brooke Olson opened the scoring in the game with a quick layup assisted by junior guard Maesyn Thiesen. After UMD jumped out to the quick two point lead Emporia State would go on a 10-0 run breaking out to a 10-2 lead. Sophomore guard/forward Madelyn Granica's jumper at 5:33 would stop the bleeding and UMD would trail the Lady Hornets by six at the first quarter media timeout. The latter half of the first quarter would go the opposite way as the UMD pieced together a 13-5 run of their own to tie the game 15-15 after the first quarter of play. The second quarter of play would be much more back and forth as both teams settled in. The Bulldog's four point lead at the second quarter media timeout would prove to be the largest lead that either team would have during the frame. UMD and Emporia State would just about match shots back and forth down the stretch in the second half of the second quarter. The combination of a Brooke Olson three pointer and senior guard/forward Payton Kahl layup would secure a 34-31 lead for the Bulldogs at the halftime buzzer.

The third quarter would start with a quick wide open layup from senior forward Sarah Grow off a great find from senior guard Ann Simonet. Olson would hit from three point range at 7:17 of the third quarter to extend the UMD lead to eight at 39-31. From that point on Emporia state would string together a 9-2 run powered by triples from Ehlaina Hartman and Fredricka Sheats to bring the Lady Hornets right back into the mix cutting the UMD lead to just one. Two free throws from the Lady Hornets Ehlainia Hartman at the 3:05 mark would give Emporia State its first lead since the first half. The ensuing minute of play, the Bulldogs and Lady Hornets would show off their shooting from long range as UMD and Emporia State would trade four straight three point baskets. Emporia State would end the quarter with a 51-49 lead.

Entering the fourth quarter Emporia State would take what most probably thought was a stranglehold on things as they rolled up an 11-4 run in the first five or so minutes of the final quarter. With 4:04 remaining in the game Tre'Zure Jobe would hit a three for the Lady Hornets giving them a twelve point advantage 65-53. With 3:44 remaining Payton Kahl hit a layup which would bring UMD back within ten points, the Bulldogs proceeded to go on a 9-0 run in the next 2:20, credit to five more points from Kahl and two from Olson. The scoreboard read 65-62 with 1:24 left in regulation. Perhaps the turning point of this ballgame would come with 40 seconds remaining in the final quarter, Ann Simonet would be fouled from behind the three point line. Simonet proceeded to convert all of her free throws pulling UMD ever so slightly closer down just three. Emporia State would miss a three pointer on the next possession. Ensuing UMD possession saw Simonet get an open look from beyond the arc and this time she would not miss tying the game at 68 with just over three seconds remaining. Emporia State would get one last look at tying the game but would fail to convert as this one would head to overtime. Simonet would score UMD's last six points to tie the game as the Bulldogs went on a 6-0 run in the last 50 seconds of regulation.
 
In the five minute overtime period, Olson would give UMD a one point lead after hitting one of two free throws 55 seconds in. Defense and turnovers committed by both teams would be the story for the majority of the extra session as the Bulldogs and Lady Hornets would go scoreless for the majority of the overtime period. Payton Kahl would fight through contact to secure a layup, draw a foul and subsequently convert her and-one opportunity to give UMD a 72-68 with 1:19 remaining in overtime. Maesyn Thiesen's two made free throws with 20 seconds remaining would put the game on ice as UMD extended their lead to 76-68. Emporia State would get two back but it would be the Bulldogs who prevail and move on to the NCAA Central Regional Semifinals with a 76-70 victory.
 
Brooke Olson led the way for the Bulldogs on the night with a season high 31 points. She also grabbed 14 rebounds, two assists and one steal. This is Olson's fourth double-double in her past five games. Payton Kahl finished the night with 14 points on 6-11 shooting from the field, Kahl dished out four assists, swatted one block and grabbed two steals. Ann Simonet finished with nine points, four rebounds, dished out three assists and had two steals. Maesyn Thiesen finished with seven points, nine boards, and a team high six assists. Thiesen also played a team high 43 minutes on the night. Sarah Grow finished with six points, five boards and one assist.
 
With the win Head Coach Mandy Pearson officially eclipsed the 100 win mark for her tenure as the bench boss of the UMD women's basketball team. She becomes the fastest coach in UMD history to reach 100 wins, reaching the milestone in just 158 games.

UMD will move on to face the No. 2 seed Nebraska-Kearney Lopers tomorrow at 7:45 PM CT.