YORK, Neb. – It came down to the final second Wednesday night as the University of Saint Mary women's basketball team was able to pull out a 68-66 win over York College on the road. Danielle Cassady hit the game-winning basket as time expired to secure the Spires first win of the season.

The Spires start the season 1-6 overall and 1-2 KCAC.

Saint Mary grabbed its first lead in the early minutes of the game after a made three-pointer by Rebecca Gilpin to give the Spires a 5-3 lead. Both teams would trade baskets throughout the rest of the quarter. Saint Mary led 13-11 at the end of the first. The Spires went on a 9-0 run in the second as Nese Selepeo drained a three-pointer and basket in the paint, and Dakota Corle scored two baskets of her own. After holding York to 25.8 percent from the field, Saint Mary led 28-22 at halftime.

The Panthers came out aggressive in the second half and took the lead after they hit a three-pointer to go up 31-30 at the 5:50 mark in the third quarter. York kept the momentum and led by as many as six before Macy Walker hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie things up again. Cassady knocked down two free-throws to give the Spires a 43-41 going into the fourth quarter. York would not fold as they would trade baskets and made two free-throws to tie the game up 66-66 with .12 seconds left in the game.

USM would get the ball back after York stepped out of bounds with 1.0 seconds left on the clock. The ball was placed in front of the Spires bench and the attempt in to the post was knocked out of bounds with .03 seconds left. As the ball was passed in, Cassady tipped the ball and watched it fall to win the game.

Cassady led the Spires with 21 points, six assists, and five steals. Walker chipped in 14. Saint Mary forced York to 22 turnovers.

UP NEXT
The Spires travel to Sterling, Kan. on Nov. 23 to take on (12)Sterling College.