CLICK HERE TO READ ORIGINAL RELEASE - written by John Swasey, Special to the Portland Press Herald
STANDISH — Kelsi McNamara scored a game-high 31 points while playing 46 of a possible 50 minutes Thursday night as Saint Joseph's College defeated Johnson & Wales 91-90 in double overtime to reach the Great Northeast Athletic Conference women's basketball final.
The top-seeded Monks (23-4) will be home against second-seeded Emmanuel (20-7) in the championship game Saturday. The winner will advance to the Div. III NCAA tournament.
McNamara hit two key shots for the Monks – 3-pointers in the final minute of both regulation and the first overtime – to extend the game.
In regulation, Saint Joseph's trailed by three points before McNamara found open space on the right wing and banked in a 3-pointer with 23 seconds remaining to make it 69-69.
"My teammates got me the ball and I just trusted myself to shoot it," said McNamara.
In overtime, her 3-pointer with 18.7 seconds remaining made it 78-78.
"We found a way at the end of regulation and that first overtime of throwing in what seemed to be almost impossible 3-point shots," said Monks Coach Mike McDevitt.
With just under 30 seconds left in the second overtime, McNamara was fouled on a drive and hit both free throws to put Saint Joseph's ahead 88-87.
"I can't understand how (McNamara) had the energy down the stretch," said McDevitt. "But what Kelsi has is a courage and a will to win. She may be one of the most competitive kids I've ever coached."
"We trusted each other to make big shots and big free throws, and that's what saved us," said McNamara.
Emily Benway, who finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, added two free throws to extend the Monks' lead to 90-87, and Julia Champagne added a free throw to offset a Wildcats basket.
"Julia (Champagne) and Emily Benway saved us with those free throws," said Abbie Eastman of the Monks.
"I bet every other team does not shoot as many free throws as we do. (Our success at the line) is from a lot of practice," said Champagne, who finished with 14 points.
Eastman kicked off the scoring in the first overtime, nailing a 3 just under one minute in to give Saint Joseph's a 72-69 lead.
The Monks led 74-73 before Raquel Pederzani hit two free throws with 1:12 left as Johnson & Wales regained a 75-74 lead.
Pederzani finished with 18 points and 12 assists.
"I don't think one team lost that game. I think a very good team won that game," said Johnson & Wales Coach Corey Boilard. "I've never been a part of a great game like that."
The Monks tied it again at 75-75 on a Benway free throw with 41.5 seconds remaining in overtime.
Pederzani then came up huge again, banking a 3-pointer from the right wing with 26.7 remaining in overtime as Johnson & Wales seized the lead, 78-75.
Then came McNamara.
Saint Joseph's played Emmanuel once in the regular season, coming away with a 75-64 victory at home on Feb. 8.
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Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic liberal arts college, providing a supportive, personalized and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 474-acre campus on the shores of Sebago Lake, the College offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.
