ST GEORGE, Utah – Despite setting an NCAA-era school record for most points in a game, 103, the Saints came up just short after falling in triple overtime to Dixie State, 107-103.
 
Makenna Schultz dropped a career-high 37 points and Saniah Simpson-Patu and Megan Nilsson each recorded double-doubles. It is the second time the Saints have scored 100 or more points in game since joining in the NCAA in 1998; the first coming against Cascade, 102-62, back in 2001.
 
After the game started tied 7-7, the Saints went on a tear to end the first quarter, fueled by Schultz. She knocked down 10 points in the first quarter alone, along with points from Simpson-Patu and Claire Dingus. SMU ended the quarter on a 13-3 run to take a 20-11 lead.
 
Dixie State managed to storm back by the end of the first half, using a 15-3 run over five minutes to take a four point lead. However, Sara Bowen and Rebekah Baugh provided two 3-pointers to tie the game at the break, 35-35.
 
Dixie State opened up some room on the scoreboard through the third quarter, holding a nine point lead with 2:45 to go. In the final minutes, the Saints responded once again and trimmed the lead down to 58-56.
 
The Saints took their first lead, 68-66, since the second quarter on a jumper by Simpson-Patu with 5:31 left in regulation. Both sides traded baskets down the stretch, with Dixie State hitting the game-tying shot with 23 seconds left to force an overtime. Simpson-Patu had an opener baseline jumper to seal the game, but just missed off the front end of the rim.
 
In the first overtime period, the Saints knocked down two free throws by Schultz to put themselves up 84-81 with only 27 seconds left go. After a missed 3-pointer by Ali Franks, who ended with 23 points for Dixie State, the Trailblazers got the offensive board to stay alive. On the second try, Rashel Blazzard hit the buzzer beating shot to force a second overtime.
 
The Saints once again controlled the early goings of the overtime period, now holding a five-point lead, 94-89 with only 1:19 left to go. However, this game was summed up by both sides coming back when it looked all but over. Dixie State's Blazzard hit another clutch three and on the following possession collected another offensive rebound, with led to a foul by SMU. The Trailblazers hit both attempts to tie the game at 94-94. Simpson-Patu missed another opportunity to seal the win for the Saints, and the game went into triple overtime.
 
Dixie State this time held a lead with time expiring, but Simpson-Patu, on her second chance 3-pointer, connected and tied the game at 103-103 with one minute to go. Schultz, who had played a majority of the overtime periods with four fouls, eventually picked up her fifth with 31 seconds left on the clock. The Trailblazers hit both shots after the fall, and the Saints, without their leading scorer, were unable to find that clutch shot to tie the game once again. After 55 minutes of basketball, Dixie State fought off the Saints, 107-103.
 
Schultz went 11-for-20, including 7-for-10 beyond the arc, and 8-for-8 at the line to amass her new career-high 37 points. Simpson-Patu recorded her first double-double of the season at 24 points and 12 rebounds, while Nilsson joined her at 13 points and 13 rebounds. Dingus nearly had herself another double-double, 10 points and nine rebounds, while Baugh had 9 points off the bench.
 
The Saints as a team shot 35-of-83 (42.2 percent) from the floor, 13-for-28 (46.4 percent) from deep, and 20-of-29 (69.0 percent) from the stripe. SMU scored 28 points in the paint, 24 points off turnovers, collected 57 rebounds, and had 18 assists on 24 turnovers.
 
Saint Martin's travels to Western Washington next week for two games apart of the Lynda Goodrich Classic. Starting November 23, the Saints face Minnesota Crookston, followed by University of Mary on November 24.