By:Patrick Hall Wednesday, 9 January, 2008

The PCC Women's Basketball Team erased a late-game 10 point deficit to pull off a stunning victory over the visiting Trojans of Colby Community College. Pratt won 74-71 in overtime.

"We absolutely had to have this game," said Head Coach Brooke Schwartz. "We know that we're capable of playing with everyone in this conference, but we definitely needed this confidence booster. The players have worked so hard this year, that it's nice to finally see some of that work pay off."

And it paid off for the crowd too, as the game turned into a classic thriller. With six minutes remaining in regulation, Pratt trailed 45-55, but in the next four and a half minutes the Beavers went on a 12-2 run that tied the game at 57.

Liddy Friesen capped that run with a short jumper off the glass with 1:37 remaining. Friesen then fouled on the next Trojan possession, but they could only convert one. With :54 seconds left, Ashley Scroggins was hit with a charge, but Colby couldn't connect. Sasha Crosby drew a foul as she drove the lane. She hit one to tie it up at 58.

With :30 seconds remaining Colby worked the ball for a three, which they hit with only :07 left. Coach Schwartz called timeout, setting up Wyneisha Webb to take a three, which she hit as time expired.

The crowd exploded and Dennis Lesh Arena was primed for overtime.

Colby scored first, but Pratt answered immediately with a Friesen bucket. After traveling calls on both teams, LindseeBachicha hit one of her free throws to put Pratt up 64-63. Colby answered with a three to go up 66-64.

With 2:40 left, Webb put back a rebound to tie it at 66, but Colby came back with another three. Colby then missed two more attempts beyond the arc before Pratt's Crosby hit one of her own to tie it again at 69 with 1:00 remaining.

Webb then drove coast to coast to put the Beavers up 71-69 with :30 left. Colby hit two free throws to tie it up, but Crosby answered again with two. Colby missed two lay-ups that would have tied the game and could only send Bachicha to the line. She hit the front end for a 74-71 lead with :01.8 left. Pratt got the rebound on the second and the celebration began.

Pratt had four players in double figures, with Crosby leading the parade with 17. Friesen followed with 14, and Webb and Scroggins each had 13. Sydney Moore collected 9 rebounds for the Beavers.

The Beavers will travel to Garden City on Wednesday to take on the Broncbusters at 6:00.