SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The No. 18 ranked Spring Arbor University women's basketball team showcased its resilience, outlasting receiving votes Indiana Wesleyan University 69-63 in overtime on Saturday inside the McDonald Athletic Center.
 
The victory completed a season sweep of the Wildcats – the first SAU has done that since joining the Crossroads League – and pushed the Cougars to 20-4 overall and 11-3 in league play.
 
Spring Arbor set the tone early, building a 10-point lead early in the second quarter and maintaining a comfortable double-digit advantage through the remainder of the half. Indiana Wesleyan made its push after intermission, trimming the deficit to two, 38-36, midway through the third quarter, but the Cougars answered emphatically with a 10-0 run to regain control and carry a 10-point cushion into the fourth.
 
The Wildcats refused to go quietly, clawing their way back throughout the final period. Indiana Wesleyan converted a pair of free throws with 25 seconds remaining to tie the game and followed with a defensive stop to force overtime.
 
IWU struck first in the extra period, taking its first lead since the opening moments of the contest, but Spring Arbor responded with seven unanswered points to seize momentum. The Wildcats pulled within two in the final minute, but the Cougars came up with a crucial defensive stand and sealed the win at the free-throw line behind clutch makes from Rielyn Goodwin and Haven Chapman.
 
Alayna Kulesza led Spring Arbor with a season-high 15 points while Chapman added 14 and Goodwin finished with 10.
 
Spring Arbor travels to Bethel University on Wednesday, Feb. 11 before returning home for its final regular season home game on Saturday, Feb. 14, against Goshen College.