Maidens get first win of season in overtime

HAMILTON — The Ronan Maidens fought hard to earn their first win of the season, going into overtime and edging Hamilton by two points 63-61.

"The girls went out with a little bit of heart and got the job done," said head coach Mike Graham.

The Maidens out-rebounded Hamilton 29-25 and shot around 42 percent. They kept their turnovers low with 12.

Hamilton had one point on the Maidens after the first period (10-9) and maintained a narrow margin going into half-time 21-18. The Maidens outshot Hamilton 17-8 in the third. Hamilton tied things up with 23 points to the Maidens' 17 in the fourth.

In the fourth, Lauryn Lynch nearly cinched the win with a last second shot, but the ball bounced off the backboard pushing the game into overtime.

The fifth period saw the Maidens ramp up their defense, countering shots and withstanding Hamilton's court pressure. Down six points with 2:11 left on the clock, Kelly McMillan sparked their run toward victory by draining a key two pointer. McMillan also led with nine rebounds.

"It felt really good to contribute to the team winning," McMillan said. "We worked really hard to get that win. We were mentally and physically prepared for that game."

Lynch (20 points) and Shayla Couture (19 points) can take credit for 39 of the 63 points scored. Couture sank a key trey and several free throws to edge Hamilton 11-9 in overtime.

"Free throws were big for us in that game. They helped us secure the win," Graham said. "It was big to have Shayla step up in a game like that."

Couture was nine for 12 from the line and had five steals.

Holly Oakland contributed nine points and was three for four from the line and had five assists. Briana Malmquist put up four.

The rest of the points were divvied between McMillan (four), Bethany Kosola (two), Carli Starkel (three) and Ali Anderson (two).

"We talked about coming together as a team and putting a full game together. We got it done. It was a good feeling," Graham said.

Friday the Maidens host Whitefish at 4:15, followed by another home game Saturday against Bigfork at 1:30.