After losing several hard-fought games down the stretch, the Yellowjackets were also forced to play without guard Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) for the second straight game due to injury.

The Yellowjackets proved to be up to the challenge however, getting big-games from Keely Deadrick (Esko, Minn./Esko) and Hailey Hart (Osseo, Wis./Osseo-Fairchild) before holding on in the final seconds to pull out a dramatic 53-52 win at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

UW-Superior (10-11 overall, 4-9 WIAC) jumped out to an early 3-0 lead behind a three-pointer by Hart on the game's first possession.

Even with the fast start, the Yellowjackets found themselves down 9-6 in the early going before rallying over the next several minutes to take a late lead in the first half.

Deadrick provided much of the offense during UW-Superior's run, connecting on 4-of-5 shots from the field in scoring 11 first half points to help the Yellowjackets take a 27-22 edge into the intermission.

The Yellowjackets had also managed to slow down the Titans (7-14, 1-11) offense in the first 20 minutes, holding UW-Oshkosh to just 8-of-31 (25.8 percent) shooting in the first half on the way to building a five-point advantage.

UW-Superior continued to pull away early in the second half, upping their lead to nine points before the Titans began to rally back late in regulation.

Megan Wenig and Heather Conroy, who had combined for just five points in the opening half, served as catalysts for the burst, adding 15 more points to their cumulative total in helping UW-Oshkosh even matters in the final minute.

The Yellowjackets finally forged ahead in the final 30 seconds after a free throw by Hart gave UW-Superior a tenuous 53-52 lead. 

With time running down, Kailee McDonald (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) made a key defensive play in the final 20 seconds of regulation, stripping the ball from Wenig with just over 20 seconds left and forcing the Titans to foul.

Even with the foul, UW-Oshkosh had a chance to win the game in regulation after two missed free throws gave the Titans the ball with under 10 seconds left.

The Titans eventually got an inside attempt was the buzzer sounded, but Conroy's shot bounced off the rim and allowed the Yellowjackets to escape with the one-point win.

Deadrick finished with 14 points for the Yellowjackets while Hart added 13 points and 15 rebounds.  Bri Davis (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown) added nine points and 10 rebounds for UW-Superior as well.

UW-Oshkosh was paced by Wenig with 11 points.  Conroy pitched in with 10 points.

Milestone Update: Hart needs two points to reach the 1000-point mark for her career and four points to jump into sixth place on the all-time list.  She topped the 600-rebound mark today and needs 23 to pass Dawn Bartuska for fifth all-time.  Davis' nine points giver 878, four away from jumping into 12th on the all-time scoring list.  Her ten rebounds today give her 502 and she jumped into tenth on the all-time list.  Urmanski topped the 800-point plateau and with three assists will move into eighth on the all-time list.

The Yellowjackets host UW-River Falls at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Wednesday starting at 7 p.m.