PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – Senior Sarah Albert's 24 points guided a 14-point second-half comeback to force overtime against host UW-Platteville, but the Pioneers found a way to sneak by with the 81-77 victory on Bo Ryan Court, this evening, Nov. 22.

A 10-2 Pioneer run to open the second half put the Sabres in a deep 14-point hole. The Sabres used a 20-5 run late to not only erase the deficit, but take a six-point, 63-57, lead. A 9-3 run for the hosts sent the game to overtime and, following Melissa Carmody's three to open the scoring in the extra stanza, the Pioneers never looked back.

Senior Sarah Albert scored 13 of her team-high 24 points, while freshman Jessica Roberts chipped in all 14 of her points off the bench, in the second half and overtime. However, it wasn't enough to outshine UW-Platteville's Alyssa Krajco's 32-point, 12-rebound double-double.

The first half was an ugly one for the visiting Sabres, who committed 16 turnovers in the first 20 minutes. The Pioneers capitalized with 19 of their 37 first-half points coming off Marian miscues.

Down, but not out, the Sabres trailed by just six points at the break as UWP took a 37-31 advantage into halftime.

Less than four minutes into the second half, the Pioneers had built their lead to a hefty 14 points right before the Sabres started to chip into that deficit. Roberts drained a three followed by three more points from Albert. Less than six minutes later, the Sabres had dwindled the deficit down to a single point at 52-51.

A Molly Kovarik three-pointer put the Sabres in front and capped a 21-5 run with 7:26 remaining. Marian had built its lead to as many as six points with just over 3:30 remaining in regulation at 63-57. However, the Pioneers, with the help of Krajco, Carmody and Stacy Clark, were able to erase the deficit. Clark split a pair of free throws that would have potentially put the Pioneers in front, but instead sent the game into overtime, tied at 66-all.

In the extra session, Carmody hit a three just 30 seconds in and UW-Platteville never looked back.

The Sabres will turn right around and take on UW-La Crosse at Bo Ryan Court tomorrow at 1 p.m.