Box Score

            UW-Parkside and Missouri S&T played an epic game in the DeSimone Gymnasium Thursday night. It didn't take the usual 40 minutes to decide, or 45, or 50 for that matter.

            The Rangers out-lasted the Miners, 80-77, in triple overtime. It was the lone triple overtime game for the Rangers since joining the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the early 1990s.

            An opportunistic Kristin Ruchti was standing underneath the basket at the end of triple overtime. She stole the ball as time expired, igniting a wild on-court celebration.

            Kaitlyn Bettiga ripped the ball away from S&T with 17 seconds left in triple overtime. An alternate ball situation was called. The possession arrow favored the Rangers. Jadee Rooney was promptly fouled and one of the league's best free throw shooters buried a pair of shots to put the Rangers up by what would be the final margin.

            Missouri S&T scored the final bucket of the second overtime, setting up the third. Single overtime was forced when Rooney made one of two free throws with four seconds left to tie the game at 60 apiece.

            The Miners forced overtime with a steal and hoop with 17 seconds left in regulation. The visitors then made a defensive stand to create the original extra minutes.

            Ruchti scored a career high 23 points. She came up big with fellow front-line players Amy Selk and Brittany Beyer fouling out.

            Selk had 19 points and a dozen rebounds in the contest. Rooney had an unconventional double-double with 15 points and 11 assists. Beyer added 11 points before fouling out.

            The Rangers held Missouri S&T to 35 percent field goal shooting for the game. The Rangers made good on 48 percent of their shots.

            Missouri S&T made it to the free throw line often, especially with the Rangers committing the first 10 fouls in the second half. The Miners were 26-33 from the line in the game, while the Rangers were 13-18.

            Julie Meyer was S&T's top point person with 19. Fareedah Washington logged a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

            The game featured a whopping 16 lead changes. The clash was knotted 10 times. The biggest lead of the game was owned by S&T at 10 with 10:22 to go in the second half. The Rangers never led by more than the final margin of three.

            The win ups the Ranger overall record t 14-4. The league record is now 8-2. UW-Parkside has now won 15 consecutive home games, dating back to last season.

            Missouri S&T has records identical to the Rangers at 14-4, 8-2.

            Parkside will host Maryville on Alumni Day Saturday at 1 p.m.