Laramie – Hanna Zavecz scored five of her 28 points in the third and final overtime as Wyoming beat Kansas State 89-79 on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the WNIT.
Zavecz opened the third overtime with a hard-charging layup, then scored three more points from the free-throw line. The Cowgirls (26-9) never trailed in the third overtime.
“I had a big (player) on me,” Zavecz said. “Team rule – if a guard has a ‘big,’ you drive.”
Wyoming advances to play at home against Wisconsin in Saturday’s WNIT title game. The Badgers beat Western Kentucky 79-72 on Wednesday night.
The Cowgirls needed repeated comebacks to earn the win before 12,225 fans, the second- largest crowd in WNIT history.
“I’ve never been involved in (a game) of this magnitude, this many people, the game going back and forth,” Wyoming coach Joe Legerski said.
Kansas State (19-15) led late in the second half, but Justyna Podziemska hit a 3-pointer with 6.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 59, and Dominique Sisk hit a layup with 8.1 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the game at 71. Jodi Bolerjack hit a free throw with 13.2 seconds left in the second overtime to tie the game at 78.
Ashley Sweat scored a career-high 31 points for the Wildcats, and Shalee Lehning had a triple-double – 15 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
In Super Stats: Box score. 10D
