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Hattie Fullhart hit a pair of free throws with 43 seconds left in regulation to pull Fergus Falls into a 45-45 tie with Bemidji on Saturday afternoon. Bemidji failed to convert on the ensuing possession, giving the Otters an opportunity to win it. Brynn Sternberg worked the ball to Ruby Ellison who buried a corner-three with under one second to play, lifting the Otters to a 48-45 victory. The Otters battled back from a 35-24 second half deficit to record their second win of the season.
Sternberg scored a game high 20 points and Julia Hajicek added 10 for the Otters. Fullhart finished with 9 and Ellison ended up with 6 points. The Otters made 32% of their field goal attempts. Sternberg led the team with 8 rebounds. Fullhart and Hajicek had 5 each and the Otters tied Bemidji on the boards with 32. Hajicek had a team high 3 assists.
"We had a frustrating first half as we just couldn't find our groove in a very physical half of basketball," commented Head Coach Josh Steer of the Otters. "We came out flat in the second half, but Julia Hajicek gave us a spark with a couple of huge buckets when we were down 11 and our defense played outstanding. Our defensive play and our rebounding gave us a chance to get back into it. I'm very proud of the resilience the girls showed in overcoming that deficit and pulling out the win."
Bemidji was led by 13 from Clara Bieber, 9 from Allie Lish and 8 from Katie Milbrandt. Bemidji shot35% for the game.
Fergus Falls (2-2) will resume Central Lakes Conference action with a game at Sauk Rapids-Rice on Thursday.
The Otters won the JV game, 47-46, and also took the ninth grade game, 44-40, completing a three-game sweep in Bemidji.