The St. Lawrence University women's basketball team trailed by 19 points with under 9:00 minutes to play in the 2014-15 opener on Saturday night against Nebraska Wesleyan at the 2014 Colorado College Tournament in Colorado Springs, CO. However, the Saints got hot from the field late and outscored the Prairie Wolves 30-11 to force overtime before winning 88-85 in dramatic fashion.

Sophomore Caroline Dalton led all players with 21 points and finished with a double-double thanks to 10 boards. Kara McDuffee also had a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds) after closing with an 8-for-10 mark at the free throw line including two crucial makes with :01 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Rookie Cara Waterson matched Dalton's 21 points in her St. Lawrence debut thanks to a 3-for-7 mark from behind the arc while Lauren Quattrocchi had seven points, a team-high six assists and the game-clinching steal. The Saints were able to earn the win thanks to a 61-43 advantage in rebounds.

"That was an awesome finish! We played a good, athletic team that shot it well tonight, but found a way to dig in on defense in the second half and come up with great shooting and rebounding in the last eight minutes," said St. Lawrence head coach Dan Roiger. "I'm really proud of the team and the tenacity we showed throughout. Despite a poor start, we never quit and I'm still amazed at the 19-point comeback in the final minutes."

Felicia TeKolste's 18 points led Nebraska Wesleyan (0-1) while Emma Neal chipped in 17. The Prairie Wolves shot 42% from the field, but the rebounding disadvantage and 31 fouls were too much to overcome.

The two teams were tied at 14-14 midway through the first half, but a late spurt by Nebraska Wesleyan gave them a double-digit lead at intermission. Up four in the final minute of the half, Jill Brichacek knocked down a jumper followed by back-to-back buckets by Anna Schell for a 48-38 lead at intermission for the Prairie Wolves.

The challenge would only get stiffer in the second half for St. Lawrence, as Nebraska Wesleyan continued to thrive offensively, as a lay-up by TeKolste with 8:47 to play gave the Prairie Wolves their largest lead of 19 points, 67-48.

Waterson would get the comeback on track with back-to-back three pointers and a lay-in. Her eight straight points pulled St. Lawrence within seven with 3:59 to play. She then converted an and-1 in the paint to make it a one possession game with the Saints down just three at 72-69. Trailing 73-71, Dalton delivered a big three to give St. Lawrence its first lead of the game, 74-73. It wouldn't hold, however, as Courtney Cook's lay-in with 39 seconds left gave Nebraska Wesleyan a 78-76 lead and it appeared that would prove to be the winning basket after a missed lay-up by Waterson.

Neal's missed free throw on the 1-and-1 try gave St. Lawrence life, and she compounded the mistake by fouling McDuffee with just one second remaining in the game. The senior captain delivered in the clutch, making both free throws to tie the score at 78-78 to force the 5:00 minute overtime.

Dalton and Neal would exchange three pointers, but Waterson's free throws that followed gave St. Lawrence the lead for good. Waterson would then knock down a three pointer for the Saints' largest lead at 86-82. Nebraska Wesleyan would have a chance in the final seconds down two with the ball, but Quattrocchi stole the ball from Kelly Sanchez, allowing the Saints to escape with the fantastic come-from-behind 88-85 win.

St. Lawrence will take on the hosting Tigers of Colorado College tomorrow, Sunday, November 16 at 8:00pm (EST).