The win was the fourth straight for Adams State (4-1), which has now scored at least 82 points in each of its last three games. The Panthers, which were ranked 16th in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Divison II preseason poll but have struggled with injuries and are now in the "receiving votes" category as are the Grizzlies, drop to 1-4 on the season.
Bustos' 36 points was not only a new career best for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Preseason Player of the Year, but also broke her own Adams State Division II era single-game record, but also leaves her bring her career scoring total to 1,374 points, just four shy of the career record of 1,378 set by Megan Hoffman from 2001-05. Of Bustos' 36 points, 24 of them came via the 3-pointer, as she hit a new available history (1997-98 to present) single-game record eight triples on Friday.
Adams State never trailed in the opening half, and led by as many as 14 points with just 7 minutes, 25 seconds to play, but a late Drury run brought the Panthers within with nine second remaining before Loch hit a layup to send the Grizzlies into the break up 31-28.
ASC upped its advantage to 40-35 four minutes into the start of the second half, but a 10-3 run over the next five minutes put the Panthers up by two, a lead they would eventually increase to five points (68-63) with 2:53 left on the clock.
But the Grizzlies fought their way back got the ball back down by just two with 13.5 seconds remaining in regulation. Loch received the ball near the top of the key and drove to the baseline, hitting a layup and knotting the score at 70-70.
In the overtime period Bustos hit a 3-pointer to start the scoring, and after being fouled on her next triple attempt drained all three free throws to put the Grizzlies up six less than one minute in.
The Adams State was 78-71 before the Panthers went on an 8-2 run and found themselves down just 80-79 with 10 ticks left.
But then Loch scored another big layup, receiving a long pass after finding herself all alone on the Grizzlies half of the court and scoring on an uncontested layup to make the score 82-79 with four seconds left.
Loch finished with eight points on Friday and added three takeaways. Senior Kendra Coveal (Albuquerque, N.M.) also finished with double-digits, scoring a season-best 13 points while pulling down five boards.
Junior forward Chloe Cable (Glendale, Ariz.) was scoreless in the first half, but scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in the second half to finish the evening just one point short of a double-double with nine points and 10 boards.
The Panthers were led by Bethanie Funderburk who was good for 28 points, while Ja'Nell Jones, who came into the contest averaging 20 points per game scored 15.
Adams State struggled with turnovers in the game, giving the ball up 25 times which Drury converted for 31 points.
The Grizzlies will continue play at the CSU-Pueblo Chuck Stephens Classic on Saturday at 5 p.m. as they face Division III University of Dubuque (Iowa). The Spartans entered their Friday contest against CSU-Pueblo with a 1-1 mark on the season, having topped Division III's 21st ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville by a 68-64 tally on Nov. 21.
Fans who can't make it to Massari Arena in Pueblo on Saturday evening can keep track of the Grizzlies via live stats, by following the ASCGrizzlies on Twitter, and by listening live at www.kspk.com.
Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.
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