DES MOINES, Iowa – Melissa Heon made two free throws with 2.5 seconds left in overtime to lift the University of Maine women’s basketball team to a 63-62 victory over Drake Sunday afternoon at the Knapp Center.

The Black Bears, now 4-2, overcame 20 turnovers and a Drake comeback to post their second straight win.

“I’m proud of them,” Maine coach Sharon Versyp said. “We gutted it out in overtime.”

Maine did hold a 42-29 edge in rebounds, which proved to be a big key late.

Heather Ernest of Temple, who paced the Bears with 21 points and 15 rebounds, grabbed a missed Drake free throw with about 15 seconds left. Ernest and Heon both missed layups on the ensuing possession, but Heon was fouled by Linda Sayavongchanh (team-high 16 points) while trying for a rebound on the ensuing possession.

Drake had a 62-61 lead when Heon stepped to the line. She went 5-for-6 from the line overall and the Bears hit 21 of their 25 free-throw attempts, including all six in overtime.

Drake missed two free throws in OT, including the Whitney Pegram miss that was rebounded by Ernest.

“That was the big thing for us,” Versyp said. “The offense wasn’t working, but we got to the foul line and that’s what we have to do.”

The Bears shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but finished at 38 percent.

Maine trailed by as many as three points in overtime, but Ernest made two free throws with 3:16 left and Julie Veilleux of Augusta’s 15-footer tied it with 44 seconds left.

Heon finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Kim Corbitt chipped in with nine points.

Maine had a 29-22 lead at halftime, but the Bears were plagued by turnovers early in the second half, allowing Drake (11 points off turnovers) to get back into the game. The Bulldogs forced overtime thanks to a Mandy Kappel 3-pointer with 12 seconds left in regulation, tying it at 55-55.

“We were supposed to switch on a screen, she had a good look, and we didn’t get anyone on her until she shot it,” Versyp said. “We have to work in practice on what to do in that circumstance.”

“They’re not a very good 3-point-shooting team, but they shot well [7-for-14] against us,” she added.

The Bears didn’t get off a last-second shot in regulation because of a player-control foul called on Corbitt with less than a second remaining. The Bulldogs tried a final heave, but the shot missed.

Maine’s win came two days after a 76-73 triumph at Wisconsin-Green Bay, which was riding a 16-game home winning streak.

“I didn’t think we would have a letdown,” Versyp said. “I was expecting us to show a lot of emotion, and we did.”

The Bears will be back on the road to face Indiana University Friday night.

BLACK BEARS 63, BULLDOGS 62 (OT)

Maine (4-2) Drake (2-3)

Player G AG F AF TP Player G AG AF TP

Ernest 7 15 6 8 21 Chaput 3 6 7

Veilleux 3 6 0 0 6 Martin 1 8 3

Peterson 0 3 5 6 5 Kappel 3 8 9

Heon 3 11 5 6 12 Burchill 0 3 6

Corbitt 3 6 3 3 9 Dohrmann 1 2

Traversi 1 2 2 2 5 Syvngchnh 7 14 1 3 16

Underwood 1 2 0 0 3 Denmon 4 6 12

Hugstad-Vaa 1 2 0 0 2 Pegram 3 7 7

Jay 0 2 0 0 0

Whittier 0 0 0 0 0

Barker 0 1 0 0 0

Schrader 0 0 0 0 0

Totals 19 50 21 25 63 22 57 11 16 62

Maine 29 55 63

Drake 22 55 62

3-pt. goals ? Maine (4-10): Underwood 1-1, Ernest 1-2, Heon 1-3, Traversi 1-2, Veilleux 0-2; Drake (7-14): Kappel 3-5, Denmon 2-3, Sayavongchanh 1-1, Martin 1-3, Burchill 0-1, Dohrmann 0-1

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