Women's Basketball | 1/22/2009 11:57:19 AM

Box Score MONMOUTH, Ore. - Roni Jo Mielke scored 24 points including seven in overtime as Saint Martin's defeated Western Oregon University 86-83, Thursday, Jan. 22.
 
The loss dropped the Wolves to 7-9 on the season and to 2-3 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. With the win, the Saints move to 11-5 and even their record at 2-2 in the GNAC.
 
Katie Torland had a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead Western Oregon in both categories and also dished out a team-best five assists. The Wolves had four other double-digit scorers as Whitney Chase notched 16 points, Sara Zahler 14, and Sammy Nordstrom and Danielle Albus with 10 apiece.
 
The Wolves went 35-of-39 at the free throw line on the evening including 25-of-27 in the second half as part of its comeback. Torland converted on 12 of her 14 attempts at the line while Chase went a perfect 8-of-8 at the free throw line on the evening. WOU won the rebounding battle on the evening 43 to 34 thanks in part to Saint Martin's putting up 18 more shots in the game. The Wolves also had assists on 16 of its 21 baskets.
 
After falling behind 32-25 at the half, the Wolves stormed back with a 23-11 run to take a 65-60 lead with 3:29 remaining. WOU would connect on all its free throws down the stretch but committed five turnovers in that span, allowing SMU a chance to comeback. Saint Martin's tied the game at 69 on a free throw by Katie Hawkins but the Wolves quickly pushed the ball up the floor to find Sammy Nordstrom for a lay-up and a foul. After converting her free throw Saint Martin's called a timeout to set up its shot. Jamey Gelhar took a shot from the right wing but it bounced off long and Megan Teade grabbed the rebound and found Mielke at the top of the key for the three-pointer to tie the game with seven second remaining.
 
In overtime, the two teams traded baskets until the game was once again tied at 80-80. Michelle Short of SMU then grabbed the offensive rebound and made both free throws to put the Saints up 82-80. After an exchange of possessions, Albus found Zahler in the left corner for a three-point basket to put the Wolves up 83-82 with 0:59 remaining. Mielke got the ball and pushed it up the floor causing Torland to commit her fifth and final foul. Mielke would make both free throws to put the Saints up 84-83. On the Wolves next possession, a Nordstrom lay-up attempt rolled off the rim and SMU collected the rebound. The Wolves got the steal on the inbound but a Jessica Goss three-point attempt went long and WOU committed a foul sending Gelhar to the free throw line where she made both shots to put Saint Martin's up 86-83 with 0:04 remaining. Kelly Hughes pushed the ball up the floor for WOU and got a three-point attempt up before the horn, but the ball hung on the front-rim before falling off ending the Wolves hopes of forcing a second overtime. Western Oregon went just 2-of-9 from the field in overtime including 1-of-6 from the three-point line as Saint Martin's was 2-of-5 and 6-of-6 at the free throw line in the extra period.
 
The Western Oregon women's basketball team will continue its season Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:00 p.m. (AST) as it faces Alaska Anchorage.