FRESNO, Calif. – There was not enough time in regulation to break the tie score, so #13 LMU women's water polo used both overtime sessions to pull ahead and win, 11-9, against #7 Fresno State Saturday on the road.
 
The Lions scored first as Anna Tarantino gave LMU an early lead in the first quarter. After Fresno State scored twice to take a brief lead, the Lions responded with two goals over the next minute with Carolina Magano and Kawehi Kauahi pushing LMU ahead 3-2 after one period.
 
Neither team scored in the second quarter until the Bulldogs beat the halftime buzzer with one second left to even the game at 3-3 heading into intermission.
 
The home team took a brief 4-3 lead on the opening possession of the second half before Yanah Gerber provided an equalizer on LMU's first possession of the third quarter. After Fresno State jumped back ahead, the Lions tied the game on the very next possession as Tarantino made it a 5-5 game with 6:16 on the clock. Over the final four minutes of the half Ruth Arino Ruiz put the Lions ahead by a goal twice, with the Bulldogs responded each time setting up a 7-7 game entering the fourth.
 
Fresno State jumped ahead first in the final period of regulation with a powerplay goal. Gerber responded a half minute later to tie the game at 8-all. With 2:28 to play, the Bulldogs converted a go-ahead penalty shot. Arino Ruiz completed her hat trick with 1:01 to play tying the game at 9-9 and setting up overtime.
 
The only goal of the fifth period was Tarantino's penalty shot with 18 ticks on the clock to push LMU back on top.
 
The sixth period also featured just one goal as Gerber scored with 43 seconds remaining to push the Lions ahead by two and secure victory.
 
With the win, LMU remains undefeated in Golden Coast Conference play.
 
Alyssa Barnuevo made 12 saves in her 38 minutes in the cage.
 
The Lions will play at Concordia on Friday at 11:00 PM before hosting Santa Clara Saturday at 1:00 PM in back-to-back conference games.
 
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