Findlay, Ohio – The Wayne State University women's basketball squad (9-5 overall, 4-3 GLIAC) extended its winning streak to three games with a thrilling 75-72 overtime triumph at the University of Findlay (9-5 overall, 3-4 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.
 
With the score tied at 65 in overtime, the Warriors tallied four straight points on lay-ups by junior center Juanita Cochran (Saginaw, Mich./Arthur Hill) and junior guard Paige Sickmiller (Romeo, Mich.).  UF's Clare Aubry connected on her fourth triple of the game to pull the Oilers within one at 69-68with 2:12 left.  Cochran answered down low 12 seconds later with senior guard Stefani Munro (Harrison Twp., Mich./Mt. Clemens) dishing her fourth assist of overtime.
 
After Aubry sank two free throws, Munro made two of her own with 1:29 left.  Nine seconds later UF's Kayla Brown made it a one-point game again at 73-72 with two foul shots.
 
Each team had a turnover on its next possession before an interesting offensive charge call on Amelia Davis (Temperance, Mich./Bedford) as she drove baseline with 20.1 seconds left in the extra session.  Findlay's Kayleigh Kenny missed a lay-up with Davis grabbing the rebound.  Davis then calmly sank both ends of a one-and-one increasing the Warrior lead to three with 5.8 seconds left.
 
Aubry's three point attempt just before the buzzer was well short.
 
The game started out as a high-scoring affair as the teams combined for 22 points (WSU 12-10) in the opening 5:20 which included two triples by Sickmiller.  Even though the Warriors went scoreless for 5:30, Findlay only managed four points in that time.  Another Sickmiller three-pointer snapped a 14-14 tie at the 8:35 mark.
 
Junior forward Phaebre Colbert (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) tallied four of WSU's next six points giving Wayne State a 23-17 lead four minutes before intermission.
 
Two Munro hoops sandwiched around an Aubry lay-up put the Warriors in front 29-20 with 2:30 left.  However, WSU was outscored 10-2 in the final 2:30 of the first half.
 
Sickmiller had nine points (on three triples) with six rebounds at halftime, while the Wayne State defense limited Findlay to 35 percent (12-of-34) in the opening half.
 
The second half saw five tied scores in the first 8:10 with neither team having more than a two-point advantage. 
 
As Findlay misfired on three consecutive one-shot possessions, Sickmiller made three buckets in exactly 60 seconds for a 49-43 Warrior lead.  A conventional three-point play by UF's Carlay Stahl cut the WSU advantage to three, but sophomore forward Imari Redfield (Detroit, Mich./Country Day) scored from inside for a 51-46 lead.
 
A jumper by junior Deanna Crumpton (Kentwood, Mich./East Kentwood) put Wayne State ahead 55-50 at the 8:12 mark.  Findlay scored the next five points before another Crumpton jumper.  UF's Brown drained a triple with 5:34 remaining putting the hosts ahead 58-57.  Tai Dotson then added two free throws after a WSU turnover.  Following an exchange of baskets, Cochran scored down low to make it 63-61 Oilers but she was unable to complete the three-point play.
 
After a steal by Cochran, Munro knotted the game at 63 with 2:39 left.  It would be WSU's last points of regulation, but it didn't matter since Findlay didn't score the final 3:35 of regulation.
 
Sickmiller tallied a season-high 19 points in a career-high 42 minutes played as Wayne State recorded its first Saturday league win of the campaign and first overtime victory since a 81-77 home court victory over Findlay on Jan. 14, 2006.
 
Cochran tallied her third double-double of the season with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.  Munro finished with 12 points and seven assists, while Colbert added 10 points.
 
Aubry led the Oilers with a game-high 23 points.
 
Wayne State returns to the Matthaei for a 5:37 p.m. tip-off on Thursday against Hillsdale.  The game will be televised live on Comcast Channel 900 with Jamie Samuelsen and Rod Beard calling the action and Joe Abramson serving as the sideline reporter.