KIRKSVILLE, MO. - The Truman State Women held on for a wild 99-97 overtime win over the Maryville Saints on Thursday night in Pershing Arena. Hannah Belanger and Antoinette Mussorici put on scoring displays for both teams with Mussorici scoring 33 and Belanger with 26, including a three-pointer to send the game to overtime.

The Bulldogs started out like a house of fire and nearly shot the Saints out of the building. Truman made six three-pointers in the first quarter and raced out to an 8-0 lead and a 27-9 advantage before ending the quarter up 34-16.

Mussorici was kept without a shot in the first quarter but turned on the jets in the second making five of her six attempts and scoring 12 points as the Saints has a 12-0 run and whittled a 21-point Bulldog lead down to eight at the break 51-43.

Maryville would go on top after another 12-0 run in the third quarter but Claire Rake knocked down a triple to momentarily restore order and put Truman ahead. The Bulldogs finished the third on a 9-2 run and led 74-68.

The Bulldogs led by eight at 83-75 and had possession of the ball with under five minutes to play in regulation. Mussorici capped off a 12-3 run over the next four minutes with a pair of free throws to give the Saints the lead with 90 seconds left to play. 

Taylor Kirby missed the first but made a second free throw with 14 seconds left to play giving Truman a chance. On the next offensive possession, Belanger wiggled free and knocked down the three-pointer with nine seconds left to tie things up.

Mussorici had one last attempt in regulation but the shot fell off.

In overtime, the Bulldogs went up 96-92 but Hunter Stidham banked in a three-pointer with two minutes to play to breathe life back into the Saints. 

Belanger made two of four free throws late as Maryville trailed by just two with nine seconds left. Haidyn Pitsch hoisted up an open three-point attempt that grazed the rim before the horn sounded on any second chance opportunity. 

Mussorici was 12-of-19 for 33 points to lead the Saints in scoring.

Belanger scored 26 points (8-of-21) and Ellie Weltha added 22 with eight rebounds. 

The Bulldogs improved to 14-6 overall and 10-2 in the GLVC and will host Missouri-St. Louis on Saturday in Kirksville, 1 p.m. start.