Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Newman women's basketball team needed two overtimes to pull out a thrilling 76-72 win over St. Mary's on Thursday (Jan. 30) at Bill Greehey Arena. The Lady Jets moved to 11-9 and 8-6 in the Heartland Conference. The Rattlers dropped to 13-5 and 8-4 in the Heartland Conference.
 
An Alexandra Ciabattoni layup with 4:38 remaining put the Lady Jets up 50-44. The Rattlers used a 6-0 run in the next 1:24 to tie the score at 50-50. The final 3:14 of the game went scoreless for both teams. Cheniqwa Banks had a chance to put NU up three with a corner 3-pointer with 2 minutes remaining, but the shot did not go down. Copeland blocked a StMU shot on the block on the Rattlers next possession, but Cierra Tjaden couldn't get her 3 to fall with 1:30 left.
 
With 33 seconds left, Ciabattoni drove to the basket, but a jump ball was called, giving possession to the Rattlers. StMU's couldn't score in their final possession, and the game went to overtime tied at 50-50.
 
In the first overtime, Ciabattoni put NU up 53-50 with a three-point play at the 3:25 mark. After a StMU jumper, Ciabattoni added two more points for a 55-52 score with 2:33 left.
 
A Rattler layup with 2:19 remaining made it 55-54. DeKendra Ledoux split a pair of free throws with 2:09 left to increase the Lady Jets' lead to 56-54 at the 2:09 mark.
 
The Rattlers tied the score at 56-56 with 1:47 remaining on a layup. After a missed jumper from Shekeira Copeland with 1:17 left, StMU took a 58-56 advantage on a Bria Bell layup with 54 seconds remaining.
 
Copeland knotted the score at 58-58 with 39 seconds remaining on a made field goal. The score remained tied at 58-58 at the end of the first overtime.
 
With the score tied at 60-60 in the second overtime, NU went on a 7-0 run to take control of the game. Copeland made back-to-back jumpers at the 3:51 and 3:10 marks for a 64-40 score, and Banks hit a 3-pointer with 2:33 left for the 67-60 NU advantage. The Lady Jets pulled out to a 72-63 as Banks hit another triple and added two free throws at the 1:15 mark.
 
Turnovers allowed StMU to close the gap to with two, 72-70, with 44 seconds remaining after four Rattler free throws. StMU fouled Ledoux with 32 seconds left, and the junior missed both free throws.
 
With a chance to tie, the Rattlers' Jackie Woods missed a jumper with 15 seconds remaining, and NU's Copeland grabbed the rebound. StMU fouled and Copeland hit two free throws with 11 seconds left for a 74-70 score.
 
StMU got a quick basket with 6 seconds remaining, but two Banks free throws with 4 seconds left put the game away, 76-72.  
 
Ciabattoni scored a game-high 23 points in 43 minutes. She added six rebounds, two assists and a steal. Banks finished with 22 points, five steals and two assists. Totaling a double-double was Shekeira Copeland with 14 points and 11 rebounds. She added two blocks.
 
The Lady Jets travel to Texas A&M International on Saturday (Feb. 1) for a 1 p.m. tip-off in Laredo, Texas.