WNIT final goes three overtimes as Michigan knocks off Georgia Tech for title

Updated: Apr 2, 2017, 01:18 am

DETROIT -- Katelynn Flaherty hit four 3-pointers and scored 27 points, Hallie Thome added 25 points, and Michigan outlasted Georgia Tech 89-79 in three overtimes on Saturday for the WNIT championship.

Michigan (28-9) is the 20th champion in the 20-year history of the tournament.

Siera Thompson added 13 points with eight assists for Michigan, which outscored Georgia Tech 13-3 in the third overtime. Flaherty became the second player in program history to reach 2,000 points.

Zaire O'Neil scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Georgia Tech (22-15), but she fouled out with 3:36 left in regulation. Elo Edeferioka added 11 points and 17 rebounds.

Michigan was down 67-61 late in regulation, but Flaherty hit two deep 3-pointers -- the last to tie the game at 67 with 10.2 seconds to go. Edeferioka was fouled on a free throw-line jumper with 0.6 seconds left, but the 71.4 percent free throw shooter missed both.

In the first overtime, Georgia Tech's Cha'Ron Sweeney knotted it at 70 with 1:04 to go on a 3-pointer in transition, and she blocked a shot at the buzzer. Georgia Tech's Francesca Pan forced the third overtime with a steal and fast-break layup to tie it at 76.

It was the first WNIT championship game to go to overtime.