Lady Wolves fall 1 point short

WINFIELD — Winfield-Mount Union gave No. 10 (2A) Mediapolis all it could handle in a marquee matchup of Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division foes on Tuesday night. The Bullettes, however, had just enough to knock the Wolves off.

Mediapolis edged WMU 40-39 in overtime, a loss that dropped the Wolves to two games back in the North standings.

The loss all but doused he hopes of a second-straight North Division title for WMU. The Bullettes now have a stranglehold on the division.

Winfield-Mount Union held a late lead in overtime, but a shaky performance at the free throw stripe kept Mediapolis within striking distance, and Bullette star Hallie Mohr hit the game-winning layup with just 20 seconds left in the contest.

“The important thing in that game was the free-throw line,” said WMU head coach itch Wachs. “We had a chance to salt it away, and we had our good shooters on there, but we couldn't make a free throw down the stretch.”

The Wolves went 3-for-11 from the free-throw line. Mediapolis went 6-for-9.

The Bullettes led 10-8 after one quarter. WMU took a 20-18 advantage into halftime and held a 28-24 lead after three quarters.

Mediapolis nearly won the game in regulation, but WMU junior Bradie Buffington tied the game at 37-37 in the final 10 seconds with a shot over two Bullette defenders.

Buffington finished the night with 14 points. Jobey Malone had 13. Melina Oepping scored six. Keely Malone scored four, and Carlee Sloan had two.

The game was much different from the first time these two teams met up. Mediapolis beat WMU 69-44 earlier this season.

“After we played them the first time, I was like, 'that's not who we are. We'll have a chance in the rematch.'” Wachs said.

Mediapolis moved to a 16-0 overall with the win. The Bullettes are now 13-0 in North Division play. WMU still sits in second, at 14-3 and 11-2.