MINNEAPOLIS — The Ellsworth girls’ basketball team took on the Lions Dec. 16 in an NCAA matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats with 59.4 seconds left in regulation play and with the score 43-39 in favor of the Lions.
Ellsworth scored the final 4 points of the quarter, courtesy of a 3-pointer by senior Jo Lindsley with 47.7 seconds left, and a free throw by senior Lainey Peschka with 17.8 seconds left, to force the game into overtime with a 43-43 tie. 
The Bearcats won the jump ball to start the overtime period, as senior Josie Kueser was immediately found in the lane for an easy 2-pointer. After a defensive rebound on the Lions’ first possession, Kueser hit her second straight shot, this time from the left elbow for the mid-range jumper, to put Ellsworth up 47-43.
As the game clock went under a minute and the score was at 48-45, Peschka connected from behind the arc with 51 seconds left, then added an insurance free throw to secure the Ellsworth victory by a score of 52-46.
The two teams got to the exciting finish by the Bearcats starting the game on a mini 4-0 run, followed by a 17-3 Minneapolis run, before senior Lexi Moore made a 3-point shot right before the buzzer, as the opening quarter ended with a 17-10 Lions lead.
Ellsworth then outscored the Lions 13-4 in the second quarter, as Lindsley scored two of her seven, second-quarter points with five seconds left in the half, to break a 21-21 tie and take a 23-21 Bearcat lead into the locker room at halftime.
Missed free throws plagued Ellsworth in the third quarter, as the Bearcats only went 2-6 from the charity stripe. Both teams played through two ties and four lead changes in the frame, with the Bearcats taking a 36-33 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Minneapolis reclaimed the lead with 3:00 left in regulation at 41-39, then extended their lead to 43-39 before Ellsworth scored the final 4 points of the quarter to push the game into overtime.
Seven players scored for Ellsworth in the contest, as Peschka led them with 17 points, including 15 points in the second half, followed by Lindsley with 12 points and senior Elyse Haxton adding 9.
The Bearcats improved their overall record to 4-0, including a 2-0 mark in the NCAA.
The team will take up action after their winter break on Jan. 6 at Larned.