Good points made by the two previous posts (oops, now a third post is in there while I was writing this). However, it wasn't just great defense by NSU. The Tribe missed a bunch of easy shots and Abby Rendle (5-15 iirc) had a very poor shooting day, missing shots she usually makes. I think they just took too long to take it seriously and get it going. They had been spoiled by some good 4th period comebacks and probably assumed that they could/would do it again (which they actually did, forcing overtime). NSU was deadly from three, and also deadly from the FT line (they went 7-8 in OT after going only 12-22 during regulation).

Also, I hesitate to bring this up for fear of incurring the wrath of Rocco, but the officiating was absolutely atrocious. NSU shot 22 foul shots in regulation and the Tribe shot only 12. Bianca Boggs, the Tribe's hottest player, spent significant minutes on the bench in foul trouble. It was obvious that the officiating was affecting how Rendle played defense late in the game. At one point, the announcers (admittedly W&M people but, hey, I have eyes too and I can confirm what they said) said that "W&M gets mauled at one end with no foul and then they call a ticky-tack foul on the other end". It was exactly that way. I won't even call it inconsistent because it was very consistently called -- against W&M. The Tribe coaches appeared to agree with this assessment. Worse, it looked like only one official had it in for the Tribe - but it only takes one. Anyone who disputes my take on the officiating can go review the game tape.