NORMANDY, MO. – The Maryville women's basketball team won its second ever Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship title with an 83-75 double overtime victory over Missouri-St. Louis. The Saints claimed the 2026 title, their first since winning the 2012 championship, and will be making their second NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
With four minutes to play in regulation, the Saints trailed 55-50. Lueken drilled a 3-pointer, and Lindsey Schadewalt scored on a layup to tie the game with 2:11 to play. Bree Shannon made a jumper with 42 seconds to play but UMSL made two free throws with 34 seconds left that eventually forced the first overtime.
 
The first extra session saw the teams trade basket after basket and point after point. UMSL hit a 3-pointer before Gracie Gopalan answered with a triple. The Tritons sank a jumper but Schadewalt hit two free throws to tie the game at 62-all. UMSL again took the lead before Pluemer converted two at the stripe. UMSL retook the lead with two free throws until Gopalan answered with two clutch free throws with 13.1 ticks left to force double overtime.
 
Gopalan made two more free throws, and Lueken sank a jumper. After one UMSL basket, Pluemer answered for a 72-68 lead with 3:34 to play. The Tritons went back ahead on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws for a 73-72 edge. Pluemer made two free throws to push Maryville back on top. The Saints defense forced a miss before another pair by Pluemer pushed the cushion to 76-73. UMSL cut the deficit to one.
 
With the shot clock winding down in the final minute, Schadewalt threaded a pass on the left block to Liz Behan who made the clutch basket and was fouled. She hit the free throw to build a 79-75 lead with 39 seconds remaining. The Maryville defense did not give up a score, and Behan grabbed the defensive board. Pluemer went to the line with 29 seconds left and tacked on two more at the stripe. The defense forced another UMSL miss as Olivia Hahn hauled down the carom. Adylan Ayer sank another pair at the line for an eight-point lead as the Saints celebrated their second GLVC championship. Maryville set a new program record with its 25th victory of the season.

STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points: Claire Lueken - 24
Rebounds: Claire Lueken - 9
Assists: three players - 2
3-Pointers: Claire Lueken - 4
Steals: Annika Pluemer - 3
Blocked Shots: four players - 1
 
RECORDS
Maryville: 25-6
Missouri-St. Louis: 24-5
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Saints will find out their NCAA Tournament draw at 9:30 p.m. CT.