Monday night provided a kick start to the week for the Comet Basketball team. For the second time this season, the Comets took on Arkansas Baptist. The Buffaloes took the first matchup at their home court 68-63, so the Comets were looking to return the favor in Hinkhouse Gym. The game served as Senior Night for one Comet, Derin Akdeniz, as she is graduating this December with her degree. Akdeniz would make use of her final collegiate home game, putting the first 2 points on the board in the contest. The first quarter showed just how close the game would become, with the Comets taking 10-9 lead into the 2nd quarter.
Foul trouble would start to be an issue for the Comets in the 2nd, and the Buffaloes took a small lead into halftime 21-19. They would pull a little further ahead by the end of the 3rd, with a score of 38-32. The game would stay at around an 8 point margin throughout much of the 4th quarter, with the score sitting at 47-38 with 4 minutes remaining. With a large crowd in the house, the Comets knew they had to put their games in gear if they were going to have a chance at a victory. Junior Autumn Wallace would convert an And-1 opportunity to get the crowd back into the game. Another minute would tick off the clock before getting a bucket from Sara Montesdeoca, but then the momentum was on the Comets side. Senior Olivia Pruitt was a catalyst in the 4th quarter, providing valuable defensive possesions and grabbing multiple rebounds. Autumn Wallace would again answer the call when her number was called, putting in another bucket drawing multiple fouls. With under 2 minutes to go, the score was 49-46 for the Buffaloes. Sara Montesdeoca would grab a big steal before assisting Sarah Hunt on a fastbreak layup to make it a 1 point game. The Buffaloes would finally answer back with 33 seconds remaining, with a jumper at the buzzer of the shot clock to extend their lead to 3 once again.
With 23 seconds remaining, Coach Maryann Mitts would call timeout and draw up a play with hopes to tie the game. The Comets ran the drawn up play, picking the hot hand in Wallace to take the big shot. With 8 seconds left, from deep 3 point range, she let it fly. Like she had most of the night, she drained the shot to tie it up. The clock had 6.4 seconds remaining, so the Buffaloes had a chance to put a dagger in the hearts of the Cottey players and fans. The Buffaloes last second shot would be off the mark, and the game would head to overtime.
In the Overtime period, it was all Comets. Perhaps the biggest play of OT was on an offensive rebound, Senior Olivia Pruitt sprinting halfway across the floor to save the offensive possession, bounding into the stands as she leapt and passed the ball back in bounds to Sarah Hunt. It was a hustle play that doesn't show up in the Box Score, but was a big piece of why the Comets pulled off the 62-54 victory.
The game would also serve as a commemoration of Coach Mitts' 300th career coaching victory. Pre-game, she was presented with a signed ball by President Niles, along with many congratulations.
The Comets aren't done for the semester, as they travel to Stephens College on Saturday for a 1pm tip-off.
