Diedrich throws in 34 points, but Stout defeated in OT by Falcons

UW-River Falls 94, UW-Stout 89 | Photo Gallery

MENOMONIE (January 20, 2018) - UW-Stout's Kyncaide Diedrich and UW-River Falls' Crystal Pearson traded baskets in the final 20-plus second of regulation to send the game into overtime where the Falcons prevailed in a 94-89 thriller Saturday at Johnson Fieldhouse.
 
UW-Stout (7-10, 0-6 WIAC) came back from an 18-point deficit early in the fourth quarter to get into position to pull off the upset over the . Trailing 62-44 with 9:50 left in the fourth quarter, Stout outscored River Falls 30-12 over the next seven minutes and tied the score at 74-47 on a 3-point basket by Brianna Banks with 2:49 left to play.
 
The teams traded two point leads or the score was tied three times over the next nearly two minutes.
 
Diedrich, who would score a game and career-high 34 points, gave Stout a 77-76 lead at 1:42 on a three point play. Pearson tied the game at 77 on a free throw. Bailey Diersen gave Stout a 79-77 lead  with just over a minute remaining.
 
Pearson tied the score at 79 with 36 seconds left and Diedrich gave Stout the lead with 21 seconds. Pearson answered, to tie at 81 and Diedrich layed the ball in for an 83-81 lead with four seconds remaining. Pearson tied the score with 1.1 second left on the clock.
 
The game was tied twice in overtime, the final time at 87 each with 1:49 remaining. Brynn Liljander hit a 3-pointer for a 90-87 lead with 1:07 remaining, then hit the back end of two free throw attempts for a 91-87 lead with 37 seconds left. Liljander would made another free throw with 25 seconds left for a 92-87 lead.
 
Stout stayed in contention on an Emily Jacques layup with 10 seconds remaining in the overtime period. The Blue Devils were forced to foul and Taylor Paulsrud made good on both throws for the final 94-89 score.
 
Diedrich was 12 of 22 from the floor, including going 5 of 8 from 3 point range to tally 34 points. Diedrich's previous career-best was 23 points. She scored the most points since Sami Schoeder scored 31 in 2011. Diedrich also pulled down 11 rebounds for a double-double. Diersen finished the night with 16 points. Haley Seifert chipped in 15 and Amber Fabeck scored 10.
 
The Falcons had four players in double digits and three that scored 20 or more points. Liljander scored 26 points and had six assists. Pearson tallied 23 points and Hayley Rau had 20 and finished with a double-double with 14 rebounds.  Taylor Karge had 10 points.

Stout shot 29 of 80 from the floor (36.3 percent), hit 9 of 27 3 pointers (33.3 percent) and 22 of 32 from the line (68.8 percent). The Falcons were 30 of 67 from the floor (44.8 percent), 9 of 17 from beyond the arc (52.9 percent) and 25 of 28 from the line (89.3 percent).

Stout will travel to UW-La Crosse, Wednesday, Jan. 24 to finish up the first round of WIAC play. Stout will host UW-Platteville, Saturday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.