FARGO, N.D.—South Dakota senior guard Nicole Seekamp drained a game-tying bucket at the regulation horn and stole a pass to seal a South Dakota 96-94 win over North Dakota State at the end of the second overtime period on Thursday inside Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse.
 
It was the first double-overtime game for South Dakota (12-5, 3-1 Summit) since playing South Dakota State in 1991. The Coyotes have won six in a row against the Bison (5-13, 0-5 Summit).
 
"It was an incredible basketball game to be a part of," head coach Amy Williams commented after the game. "North Dakota State was playing extremely hungry, scratching and clawing. It was a hard fought win for us and I am really proud of the defensive plays we made down the stretch to win it."
 
Seekamp recorded a double-double with 25 points and 10 assists on the night. She shot 9-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free-throw stripe.
 
North Dakota State had seven active players on the night with no bench during overtime as two players had fouled out. In spite of the limited numbers, the Bison held on as the lead changed 27 times during the contest.
 
Bison guard Taylor Thunstedt scored a career high 31 points on 9-of-16 shooting to lead the Bison. She added five assists and three steals to the performance.
 
Both programs had a presence in the post as the Bison outscored the Coyotes 40-38 in the paint. Senior center Margaret McCloud notched her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. McCloud shot 5-of-6 from the field. Sophomore Kate Liveringhouse also scored in double figures with 11 points.
 
Three made free throws by senior guard Kelly Stewart, who ended with nine points, with 5:11 remaining in the third quarter gave the Coyotes a nine-point lead, the largest of the game. Bison forward Marena Whittle responded with eight points in a two-minute span to make it a one bucket game with 1:36 to play in the third. Whittle ended the night with her eighth double-double of the season, notching 21 points and 10 rebounds.
 
After Whittle fouled out in the fourth quarter, guard Kennedy Childers stepped up for the Bison as she scored 10 of her 14 points in the final five minutes of regulation. It was Childers' triple with three seconds on the clock that gave the Bison a two point lead. The Coyotes advanced the ball and put it in the hands of Seekamp to get the last-second shot off.
 
The game remained tied through the first overtime period as both teams scored six points. Bison guard Brooke Yaggie, who was the fourth Bison in double figures with 12 points, had a pair of layups.
 
Coyote forward Bridget Arens made the free throw that put the Coyotes' up 96-94 with 17 seconds on the clock. Arens tied her season high of eight points. The Bison were whittling down the clock for a final shot as Seekamp stole the ball and secured the victory.
 
South Dakota and North Dakota State both shot 49 percent from the field. The two teams were at 53 percent at the end of regulation.
 
The Coyotes travel to in-state rival South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D., Sunday at 2 p.m.