Lady Razorbacks stay alive with overtime victory

ROB KEYS
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two down, three to go.
Arkansas took the second step in becoming the first team to repeat as WNIT champions Saturday night, getting the game-winning basket from last year's tournament MVP, Lonniya Bragg.
Arkansas' 89-88 overtime victory over Missouri before 2,323 at Walton Arena set up a quarterfinal matchup against Georgia Tech, an 81-74 winner over Chattanooga. Tuesday's tipoff at Walton Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Bragg had only five points before her game-winning basket, a layup off an assist from Wendi Willits, but Arkansas Coach Gary Blair called Bragg's number during a timeout after Natalie Bright had given Missouri an 88-87 lead on a 16-foot jump shot with 17.7 seconds to play.
"We wanted Lonni in the hole because we felt like she was due," Blair said.
Willits, who finished with a game-high 25 points, took the inbounds pass and dribbled downcourt then fed Bragg from just inside the three-point arc. Bragg made a spin move around Wanette Smith and banked in the game-winner.
After a Missouri timeout, Kerensa Barr took the ball downcourt, penetrated into the lane but had her shot blocked by Lakishia Harper as time expired.
"That's good basketball, not being afraid to go up and to make a play," Blair said of Harper's block.
Arkansas (16-14) trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half, 9 points in the second half and 5 points in overtime.
"I don't think we've played all season with as much heart and energy as we did today," Blair said.
Freshman India Lewis scored all nine of her points in the second half, including three-pointers that gave Arkansas leads of 63-60 and 72-69.
After the second of those shots, which came with 3:27 remaining in regulation, the Lady Razorbacks stretched their lead to as many as six points.
Arkansas led by four points with 1:08 to play, but Harper missed two free throws and Karyn Karlin missed 3 of 4 as Missouri closed to within 76-75 with 13.2 seconds remaining.
Amy Wright made one of two free throws with 12.1 seconds to play before Amanda Lassiter hit a six-footer with less than one second remaining to force overtime.
Lassiter and Amy Monsees led Missouri (18-12) with 20 points each. Julie Helm added 14 and Marlena Williams 12.
The only Lady Razorback other than Willits to score more than nine points was senior Brandi Whitehead, who finished with 13.
Whitehead's three-point play with 36.8 seconds to play in overtime gave Arkansas an 87-86 lead. Bright and Bragg then traded go-ahead baskets to set up Harper's defensive heroics.
"Arkansas is a tremendous team, and we knew it was going to take a tremendous effort to beat them," Missouri Coach Cindy Stein said. "Somebody's got to make the play, somebody's got to make the stop, and we just came up one play short."
Arkansas overcame a sluggish start that saw the Lady Razorbacks make only 2 of their first 11 shots and commit 9 turnovers in the game's first nine minutes. By halftime, Missouri had converted 14 Arkansas turnovers into 18 points while building a 38-32 lead.
Arkansas opened the second half with a 9-2 run to take a 41-40 lead, but Missouri countered with a 9-0 spurt to take a 49-41 lead with 14:04 to play.
Willits then made a three-pointer and converted a three-point play as Arkansas used a 16-4 run to take the 63-60 lead on a Lewis three-pointer.
"You can't doubt our team," Willits said. "We are a team that's going to make runs. Basketball is a game that's all about that, and we just want to make the last one."

This article was published on Sunday, March 19, 2000

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