The Oakland University women’s basketball team (5-2) defeated Western Michigan (2-5) 73-70 after a quadruple overtime at the Athletics Center O’rena on Saturday.

Freshman guard Annemarie Hamlet led the scoring with 17 points off the bench while her sister, junior guard Elizabeth Hamlet, added 14 points.

This was the first time that an OU women’s basketball team had ever played past two overtimes in a regular season game.

“I’m exhausted and I didn’t even play,” head coach Beckie Francis said. “I was just really proud of how they held their composure, especially as a young team.”

The game started off cold for both sides as they shot a combined 0-7. Western Michigan opened up scoring by going on an 8-1 run. Oakland was 0-9 shooting until A. Hamlet scored a layup to make it 8-3.

Western Michigan held on to their lead throughout the first half. After a steal and a layup from junior guard Victoria Lipscomb, Oakland cut Western’s lead to three and trailed 23-20 at halftime.

“I think in the first half we were rushing a lot of good shots,” Francis said. “I think it got into their head a little bit and unfortunately it gets contagious.”

Just before the 18 minute mark to start the second half, Oakland took their first lead since their 1-0 lead at the beginning of the game.

Western Michigan went on a 9-0 run to extend their lead to 45-36. Junior guard Zakiya Minifee, who was in the starting lineup for the first time this season, interrupted that run with a two-point basket.

“I’m glad we (started her),” Francis said. “I’m glad we weren’t really saving her or protecting her minutes. This was a great time to go ahead and go for it.”

After Western Michigan missed the potential game winning shot at the end of regulation, the game headed into overtime tied 49-49.

The Broncos got off to a 7-0 run to start the five minute overtime. With 20 seconds left to go, A. Hamlet hit a clutch three-pointer to tie the game. Faced with the game winning shot for the second time, Western Michigan missed and the game went in to double overtime.

“We had been through (overtime) and we knew that we were tough,” Francis said. “We got better and better each time.”

The second overtime proved to be just as exciting as the first as E. Hamlet was fouled on the inbound pass with 0.9 seconds left. After making 1 of 2 free throws, the game was tied and moved on to a third overtime.

“Even though we were down, we had to remind ourselves that there’s still a lot of time left and to just keep pushing and get a good shot and get a stop,” Lipscomb said. “And that’s exactly what we did.”

In the game’s fourth overtime, A. Hamlet made a long distance three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to extend Oakland’s lead to 69-64.

“Before they slapped the ball out of bounds, I said a little prayer,” A. Hamlet said. “I was like “God, I don’t know what’s going to happen, whatever you do, just please let me make it.” I wouldn’t say I was necessarily open. I kind of just jacked it up there and it went in.”

Oakland held on to the lead and secured their fifth win of the season. After back to back games last weekend and a quadruple overtime game on Saturday, this young team has been tested early on in the season.

“Of course we’re going to be a little tired coming off a big week like that,” A. Hamlet said. “We knew this game was important. We knew we were ready to go at 100 percent.”

Oakland will play Michigan State University on Dec. 5 at 6:30 pm at the Athletics Center O’rena. The game will feature a special appearance by Santa Claus, an Oakland knit hat giveaway and a raffle for one Oakland student to win a free iPad.