Sioux City, IA – The Lady Comets saw their 2013-14 season come to a halt on Friday after an unbelievable back-and-forth game with College of the Ozarks. MSU came up short in overtime by a final score of 92-87.

Unlike the Comets first round match-up with Cornerstone, this game kept the spectators on the edge of their seat until the final buzzer. Nine ties and 13 lead changes throughout the game kept everyone unable to relax.

The first half was back-and-forth with the two teams exchanging baskets and leads throughout the period. Neither team could push their advantage past five points, with the majority of the half played as a one possession game.

A three-point shot made by Jeana Raper sent the Bobcats into the locker room with a slim advantage, 39-37.

To start the second half, the Bobcats looked to put MSU away early with a six quick points in the first 45 seconds of play. A traditional three-point play by Alice Heinzler, followed by a three point shot made by Kayla Kepler pushed their lead to 45-38.

Mayville State cut the lead down to three at 54-51 on a Sabrina Rude three-point shot as the Comets kept plugging away at the lead. She played her second great game of the tournament with 19 points and five rebounds on 6-for-15 shooting beyond the arc.

Ozarks from there made another run to try to break the Comets spirit and put them away early. A 10-2 advantage over the next three minutes put Mayville State into a hole they didn't have much time to dig out of. With 10:23 remaining, they trailed 64-53.

If there was one thing to learn about this team after the first round of this tournament, it's that no lead is safe. MSU began to work themselves back into the game as Marcisa McMillan picked up two baskets to start their second comeback in as many days. She had another strong game in this tournament with a double-double, 19 points and 11 rebounds, as well as four steals, four assists, and one block on 9-for-13 shooting.

After Tanner Merriman answered McMillan's second basket with one of her own, Hailey Longtin knocked down a three to cut the lead back down to eight, 66-58. Rude knocked in another one on the Comets next possession off an assist from McMillan. Longtin finished the game with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists.

Rude hit one more a few possessions later after a Brandy Uchtman two-pointer to cut the lead down to four.

Liza Hoglo got into the mix next as she scored on a traditional three point play to cut it down to one, and followed it with a shot from the paint to give MSU their first lead since final minute of the first half. With 4:26 remaining, the Comets had made it a game once again.

Hoglo finished this game with an impressive performance. The sophomore guard had 16 points and 10 rebounds on 6-of-11 shooting from the field.

The rest of the half was played much like the first half, back-and-forth with the lead changing hands and becoming tied multiple times.

MSU actually extended their lead up to four point after a three-point play by Kay Laforet and another two pointer by Hoglo at 74-70 with 3:16 remaining.

At 76-77 with 1:04 remaining, Samantha Heier drew a foul on Wren Wiebe and headed to the line for a pair of free throws. Heier knocked down both shots to give MSU a three-point advantage with 38 seconds left in the game.

On the following possession Raper knocked down a three after an offensive rebound to tie the game 79-79 with 19 second left. It was one of six three's made by the guard in the game.

Mayville State was unable to score on the final possession of regulation and the two teams needed five more minutes to decide a winner. The way this game went, it was only fitting they needed more time.

In the extra set the teams again traded baskets and leads with each other, as everyone in the Tyson Events Center was locked in to the game. Uchtman came up with a couple huge baskets down the stretch when the Bobcats needed them and the Ozarks had a lead 90-87 with under a minute remaining.

After a missed three by Longtin, the Bobcats rebounded the ball and sank two free throws to make it a two possession game with 17 second left. MSU was unable to score from there and the Comets season ended with a 92-87 defeat in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA national basketball tournament.

Mayville State University ends their season with a total record of 25-4, a regular season and conference tournament championship in the NSAA, the league MVP (McMillan), two more all-conference selections (Longtin – 1^st team, Hoglo – 2^nd team), and the NSAA coach-of-the-year in Dennis Hutter.

It was a heartbreaking loss for the team in a game that was so close and back-and-forth for the entire 45 minutes of play. Mayville State will lose seven seniors off this year's team that will be missed in a big way. The legacy they've left will never be forgotten.