HANOVER, N.H. – Laura Bagwell-Katalinich, Samantha Widmann, and Kate Sramac did everything in their power to try and help the Cornell women's basketball team leave Leede Arena with a win, but Dartmouth defended its home court, defeating the Big Red, 82-79, in an overtime heartbreaker on Friday night in Hanover, N.H.
The trio combined for 66 of Cornell's 79 points, with Bagwell-Katalinich and Widmann each scoring a game-high 24 points in the loss. Bagwell-Katalinich also added 12 rebounds to secure a double-double for the seventh time this season, dishing out a career-high six assists as well. Sramac's performance cannot be overlooked, as she poured in a career-high 18 points, 10 of which came in the second half and four that came in overtime. The junior effectively distributed the ball, dishing out a career-high seven assists.
Working her way into the starting lineup for the second-straight contest, Theresa Grace Mbanefo gave a solid performance, scoring nine points to go along with five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block.
Despite Cornell having two starters notch 20-point performances and a third come just two shy of the plateau, Dartmouth's shooting from behind the arc carried the Big Green throughout the contest and helped them end the game in the win column when the final buzzer sounded. Dartmouth finished the contest 11-of-20 (55.0%) from long range, scoring 33 points on three-point baskets as compared to Cornell's 15. The Big Green was especially impressive from three in the first half, going 8-of-13 (61.5%).
Cornell battled through adversity on Friday night, finding themselves trailing by as many as 12 points in the second quarter after Dartmouth went on a 17-2 run spanning roughly five and a half minutes between the first and second quarters. With 4:03 left to play in the first half and Cornel trailing, 29-17, the Big Red turned things around, going on a 17-7 run of its own over the next six and a half minutes to cut the Dartmouth lead all the way down to two, 36-34. The Big Red ultimately entered the locker room down by three, trailing the Big Green, 39-36.
The game was neck-and-neck out of the locker room, and with the score at 43-40 in favor of the Big Green three minutes into the half, Cornell turned the tides, going on a 13-2 run capped off by a Sramac 3-pointer to take its biggest lead of the game, 53-45. But just like that, Dartmouth responded with a 7-2 run of its own to cut Cornell's lead to two, 54-52. The score at the end of the third quarter was Cornell 60, Dartmouth 57, setting the scene for fourth quarter fireworks.
The Big Red used its full-court press in the fourth quarter to send Dartmouth into a frenzy, pressuring the Big Green into a 10-second backcourt violation and multiple turnovers en route to a five-point Cornell lead, 68-63, with 3:06 remaining in regulation. This is when things got interesting, as Dartmouth's Annie McKenna sank a 3-pointer and a wide-open Paula Lenart made a lay-up to tie things back up, 68-68, with 2:05 left to play.
Playing in one of the final games of her collegiate career, Widmann stepped up, calmly making a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put Cornell back on top, 71-68, with 1:39 left in the fourth. Dartmouth ultimately surged ahead to claim a 73-71 advantage with 0:11 remaining, and it was once again Widmann that came in clutch. Bagwell-Katalinich found her in transition and she drove through multiple defenders to make the game-tying layup as time expired, sending the game to overtime with the score knotted at 73-73.
The overtime period also came down to the wire after both teams refused to give an inch in the extra five minutes of play. With 1:48 remaining and the game tied, 79-79, it was Dartmouth's McKenna that helped secure the victory for the Big Green. The senior forced a Cornell turnover on the Big Red's end of the floor and was fouled in the process. With Dartmouth in the bonus, she stepped up to the free throw line and made both attempts, giving the Big Green the lead for good. Cornell would fall to Dartmouth, 82-79.
Dartmouth was led by McKenna's 17 points and game-high nine assists. Anna Luce (16) and Jimena Abejon (13) also scored in double figures.
The Big Red women's basketball team will be back in action tomorrow when it squares off against Harvard at 5 p.m. at Lavietes Pavilion in Cambridge, Mass.
