by (Fort Lauderdale, FL) – Haskell Indian Nations University survived a back-and-forth battle and pulled away in overtime to earn a dramatic 104–97 road win over Fort Lauderdale after the teams were deadlocked at 90 at the end of regulation.
The opening quarter set the tone for a physical, fast-paced contest. Fort Lauderdale jumped out early behind aggressive drives from Keara Parker and Alexis Gibbs, but Haskell answered with timely shooting from Ona Dauphinais, who knocked down three early three-pointers to keep the visitors within striking distance. The quarter ended tied at 20, signaling the tight fight to come.
Fort Lauderdale gained momentum in the second quarter, using offensive rebounds and transition opportunities to build a 42–36 halftime lead. Gibbs and Parker continued to pressure the paint, while Haskell battled through cold stretches at the rim but stayed close thanks to hustle plays and second-chance points.
The third quarter featured multiple momentum swings. Haskell leaned on Ivy Fox’s penetration and Penn Tierzah’s perimeter shooting to chip away at the deficit, but Fort Lauderdale consistently answered, maintaining a narrow edge. Despite strong interior scoring from Gatson Amelia and Arlinda Roundtree, Haskell trailed 63–57 heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter turned into a shootout. Haskell rallied with clutch baskets from Dauphinais, Fox, and Jazlynn Nosie, repeatedly erasing Fort Lauderdale leads. In the final seconds, Tierzah drilled a three with 12 seconds left to tie the game at 88, and after Fort Lauderdale briefly went ahead, Dauphinais finished at the buzzer to force overtime at 90–90.
Overtime belonged to Haskell. Dauphinais opened the extra period with a deep three, and Haskell followed with steady execution at the free-throw line. Nosie, Astorga Angela, and Tierzah all converted key free throws, while Fox and Dauphinais added timely baskets to push the lead out of reach. Strong defensive rebounds and late steals sealed the victory.
Haskell’s balanced attack, clutch shooting, and composure in overtime proved decisive as the Fighting Indians walked away with a hard-earned 104–97 win in one of their most resilient performances of the season.
