Mt. Union stunned at buzzer by Illinois Wesleyan

Staff report

ALLIANCE

Olivia Lett hit a shot at the buzzer to give Illinois Wesleyan a 70-69 win at Mount Union in the sectional semifinals of the NCAA Division III women’s basketball tournament on Friday at the McPherson Academic and Athletic Complex.

“It was the biggest shot of her career,” said Illinois Wesleyan coach Mia Smith.

The Titans (25-5) will play College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Carthage (Wis.), which defeated Centre (Ky.) 71-61 in Friday’s first game.

The winner of tonight’s game — tipoff is at 7 p.m. — advances to the Final Four in Hope, Mich., next weekend.

Lett had 14 of her game-high 26 points in the second half as she willed her team to a victory in a game that featured 11 ties and 17 lead changes.

Mount Union (28-2) lost for only the second time this season — the first time since Dec. 3 — a span of 23 games — and first time at home since Dec. 2010, snapping a 25-game winning streak at the MAAC.

Kori Wiedt had 22 points, Rosa LaMattina added 16 and Amanda Rose finished with 11 for the Purple Raiders, who had 19 turnovers —their third highest turnover total of the year — including two costly ones in the final 1:44.

The game was played in a six-point margin as Mount Union held five-point leads on three separate occasions with the last coming with just over 14 minutes to play.

Illinois Wesleyan also had leads of its own including a six-point margin, 64-58, with seven minutes to play.

The Raiders scored nine straight points to retake the lead, 67-64, on LaMattina’s 3-pointer with 5:07 to play.

Each team traded just two more baskets the rest of the way before Lett hit the game winner.

“We did everything we wanted to do,” said Mount Union head coach Suzy Venet. “She [Lett] is a great player and made a play. I feel for our seniors as they have given so much to our program.”

Melissa Gardner added 13 points for Illinois Wesleyan.

Rose also had nine rebounds to lead Mount Union, which finished one win shy of its third trip to the Final Four.