MCPHERSON, Kan. - The Bethel Thresher Women's Basketball team finished out the McPherson Classic in an overtime thriller against Missouri Baptist. Behind Kendall Michalski's 40 point performance, the Threshers closed out the Spartans in overtime 98-84.
 
After the opening period, the Threshers held on to a 3 point lead behind 10 points from Troi Lucas and 7 points from Sydney Tenant. 
 
Michalski, the Threshers leading scorer in the contest, didn't get her first points until the 7:24 mark in the second quarter when she knocked down a three-point basket to give Bethel a 7 point lead, 26-19.
 
The Threshers went into the half trailing the Spartans 45-40. Michalski finished the half with 15 points, and Lucas had 13. 
 
Missouri Baptist was able to build their lead up to as much as 11 points early in the second half. Bethel rallied back late in the third quarter as they cut the Spartan lead to just 3 points heading into the final period of regulation when Zayda Perez knocked down a free throw with 5 seconds left. 
 
Bethel regained the lead a little less than halfway through the final period when Michalski made a fast break layup making the score 68-67. After the Spartans responded taking a 4 point led, Michalski scored 5 straight points to put the Threshers back up one. 
 
Late in the quarter, Lucas had two chances to tie the contest, but she missed both free throws. She tracked down the miss of the second free throw and got fouled sending her back to line. With a chance to tie or take the lead, Lucas knocked down one free throw to tie the game at 79-79. Two Michalski free throws put the Threshers up 81-79 with 22 seconds left. The Spartans came down on their next possession and found a wide open layup to tie the contest with 9 seconds left. Michalski had a chance to win the game from the near corner at the end of regulation but caught the front of the iron.
 
In the overtime period, the Threshers outscored the Spartans 17-3 behind 8 points from Michalski and 8 points from Josie Calzonetti.
 
Kendall Michalski finished with a career-high 40 points on 7 of 16 shooting including 6 of 12 from three-point range. Michalski also went 20 of 22 from the charity stripe. Troi Lucas finished the contest scoring 20 points, while Josie Calzonetti added in 10 points and 8 rebounds.
 
The Threshers will be back in action on Friday, November 5th as they travel to Hastings, Neb. to take on Hastings College with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 PM.