HOT SPRINGS, Ark.—Moments from elimination, Kim Sitzmann and Arkansas-Little Rock managed to rally all the way to the Sun Belt tournament title game.
Sitzmann drove for a tying three-point play in the final seconds of regulation, then UALR shut out Denver in the second overtime for a 70-60 win Monday in the conference semifinals.
“My heart’s beating so fast right now I can’t make a comment,” UALR coach Joe Foley said. “I thought it was a great effort by our kids to stick together.”
Denver (16-15) led by four in the final minute of regulation, but Nnenna Akotaobi missed two free throws, and Anshel Cooper converted a driving three-point play for UALR (26-5) at the other end. Britteni Rice pushed the lead back to three with a pair of free throws, but Sitzmann drove for a layup and was fouled when Brianna Culberson tried to draw a charge.
“I thought we made great plays,” Denver coach Erik Johnson said. “We controlled the things that we could control, and there’s some things in this game of basketball that you can’t always control.”
Sitzmann’s free throw tied it at 54 with 13.9 seconds left.
“I don’t think they were expecting me to drive,” Sitzmann said. “I can’t believe she fouled me.”
Denver also led 60-56 in overtime but didn’t score again.
“Little Rock is one of the best defensive teams that you’re going to see,” Johnson said. “We’re not a great one-on-one team, and they forced us to play one-on-one.”
UALR will play Middle Tennessee on Tuesday for the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
Cooper led UALR with 24 points, and Sitzmann finished with 18.
Rice led Denver with 15 points.
