The loss unfortunately extinguishes all hopes the Lady Statesmen (15-13, 7-7 MCC) had of hosting a first round league tournament game as they are now two games back of current #4 seed St. Ambrose with two games remaining. The Queen Bees hold the tiebreaker by winning both games this year.

Penn, who trailed 28-23 at the half, stormed out of the break to lead by 11 points midway through the second stanza. Unfortunately, the Mustangs (18-10, 10-4 MCC) went on 12-1 run to reclaim the lead.

The home team pulled back ahead immediately and went up by six with 3:23 left. Mount Mercy did not fold, however, and scored the final six points, including two free throws by Catalina de la Quintana with 39 seconds left to force the first overtime at 60-60. The Mustangs had a chance to win the game in regulation, but never got a shot off in the final seconds.

Neither squad could get much going in the first five minutes, combining for just ten points. Penn scored the first two points, but then witnessed its opponent tally the game's next five points. Nancy Chicas (Sr., San Francisco, Calif., San Mateo CC) then her team to the second overtime though, on a free throw with 37 ticks remaining and then a running layup with only two seconds left.

The visitors missed another chance to win as they failed to even attempt a shot as time ran out.

The teams warmed up in the second and final extra session as the Mustangs owned a five-point advantage with only 16 seconds remaining. Chicas then hit a jumper, two of her team-high 21 points, to cut the deficit to three points.

Mount Mercy's Tonya Davis was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass, but failed to ice the game, missing both free throws to give Penn a chance to force yet another overtime.

Chicas missed a three-pointer from the right wing, but Carleigh Hobson (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Antelope Valley CC) collected the weak side offensive rebound and dribbled to behind the three-point arc. Her trifecta attempt was blocked, however, and Mount Mercy left the court victorious.

The Lady Statesmen outshot their foes 37.7%-34.2% and held a 58-50 edge in rebounding, which led to a 15-8 advantage in second-chance points. Ashton Perez (Jr., Wildomar, Calif., Riverside CC) led the charge on the glass with 11 rebounds (tied for game high), including four on the offensive end.

The home squad had a pair of Achilles' heels on Saturday, first committing 30 turnovers, which the Mustangs converted into 25 points.

Penn also fell victim to foul trouble as their 29 fouls allowed the Mustangs to go 24-38 at the line, while the Lady Statesmen were just 12-18 at the stripe.

Chicas was 9-16 from the field and also led Penn with three assists in addition to two steals.

Christa Subbert (Jr., Stanton, Stanton HS) tacked on 18 points, while Samantha Darley (Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., Mesa HS) produced 12 points and Rachel Butler (Jr., Anaheim, Calif., Cerritos CC) finished with 11.

Raven House (So., New Orleans, La., Cabrini HS) added six points in the loss, while Chandra Melaragno (Sr., Hartville, Ohio, Marlington HS) had four points and tied for the game lead with three thefts.

Next: Penn stays in Oskaloosa Wednesday to host MCC foe Waldorf in its home finale at 5:30 p.m.