POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — The No. 4 seed Houghton University women's basketball team closed its season in unforgettable fashion on Friday afternoon, outlasting No. 7 seed Asbury University in a 85-79 double-overtime victory to secure seventh place at the NCCAA Division I Women's Basketball National Championship.
With both teams searching for their first win of the tournament, the contest delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the week, featuring 12 ties, six lead changes, and two extra periods before the Highlanders ultimately prevailed.
Asbury struck first, building a 10-5 advantage early behind strong play from Emily Sizemore, but Houghton responded with a 10-3 run to take a 15-13 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Highlanders continued to build momentum in the second, knocking down three consecutive three-pointers to stretch their lead to 31-23 before heading into halftime up 33-27.
Houghton's defensive pressure proved pivotal coming out of the break, forcing turnovers and fueling a dominant third quarter. A spinning layup by Tabitha DeVries pushed the lead to double digits, and the Highlanders carried a 56-46 advantage into the final period.
Asbury refused to go away.
The Eagles mounted a relentless fourth-quarter comeback, capitalizing on missed Houghton free throws and converting in the paint to erase the deficit. With less than a second remaining, Ma'Kiya West calmly knocked down two free throws to tie the game at 63-63 and force overtime.
The first overtime period was tightly contested, with neither team able to gain more than a three-point edge. Houghton found some redemption at the free throw line, going 4-for-5, but Asbury answered late to tie the game at 73. A last-second three-point attempt by DeVries fell short, sending the game to a second overtime.
In the second extra session, Emma Huedepohl delivered the defining moment of the game. With 1:47 remaining, she buried a clutch three-pointer to give Houghton a five-point cushion at 80-75. From there, DeVries and Huedepohl combined to go a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the 85-79 victory.
DeVries led a balanced Houghton attack with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Crysta LaCrosse added 17 points and Karina Crouse chipped in 15. Olivia Simser contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, and Huedepohl finished with eight points, including the decisive three-pointer in double overtime.
Houghton shot 37.5 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from beyond the arc, while holding a 43-39 advantage on the glass. The Highlanders also forced 20 turnovers, turning defensive pressure into key opportunities throughout the game.
Sizemore led all scorers with 32 points for Asbury, while West added 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
With the win, Houghton finished 23-8 on the season. The win total is the second most in program history.
