RENO, Nev. – Grace Crowley hit two free throws with 63 seconds left in overtime as the Milwaukee women's basketball team hung on to beat Boise State 55-54 on Sunday afternoon at the Nugget Classic.
 
The Broncos (3-4) split a pair of free throws with 45 seconds remaining to cut the deficit in half, but the Panthers (2-4) shut down Boise State's final chance to hang on for the win.
 
"It was great to be able to get a win today over a very competitive and physical Boise State team," head coach Kyle Rechlicz said. "I was so proud of how our team bounced back after the Nevada game. We had a great practice and changed the momentum into a win today. It was a fight and it showed how we can play down the stretch."
 

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The Broncos got on the board first in the extra period, opening up with a triple on its first possession, but Emma Wittmershaus quickly responded with a jumper on the other end. After trading baskets, Megan Walstad knocked down a free throw to pull MKE within two.
 
Boise State missed two free throws on the next trip down and Wittmershaus hit another jumper to tie it 53-53 with 1:38 to play before Crowley calmly knocked down the eventual game-winning free throws.
 
Milwaukee took control of the game at halftime thanks to a huge second quarter where the Panthers outscored the Broncos 15-3. Kendall Nead scored six points in the second alone and Crowley added five of her seven first-half points to go up 29-20.
 
Boise State cut the MKE lead to five at the end of three and held the Panthers to nine points on 2-for-15 shooting in the fourth to send it to overtime. Wittmershaus hit two free throws to go up 46-44, but a BSU layup with 1.6 seconds left tied it at 46 and sent it to OT.
 
"I thought we had some outstanding performances – Jada Donaldson from a defensive perspective, Grace Crowley from a scoring perspective," Rechlicz continued. "Angie Cera was tough on both sides and then Megan and Emma stepped up in the post. It was a dog fight and we found a way to come out with a win."
 
Crowley and Wittmershaus each totaled 13 points and five rebounds in the win.
 
Cera chipped in everywhere with six points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
 
Milwaukee will next return to the Klotsche to prepare for the Horizon League opener. The Panthers welcome Green Bay on December 1 at 7:00 pm.
 
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