Photo by Jake McNeill Marshall’s Brooke Andries (33) blocks a would-be game-winning 3-point shot from a Thunderhawk in the Tigers’ 57-55 win over Montevideo in Marshall Monday night.

MARSHALL — Lexie Bednarek hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds to push the Marshall girls basketball team to a 57-55 home win over Montevideo Monday night.

In the final minute, the Thunderhawks took a 1-point lead on a shot from behind the arc. Marshall’s initial attempt to respond with another 3-pointer for the lead fell short, but Bri Simpson grabbed the offensive rebound, giving Marshall another chance.

From there, the Tigers called a timeout to talk over a play. Reese Graven found Bednarek open for a catch-and-shoot corner three for the lead, sending home fans into a frenzy when the shot found the bottom of the net.

Bednarek finished the game with 12 points on 4-7 shooting from 3-point range.

Still, the Thunderhawks had one last chance to respond. Rather than looking to get in close for a 2-point shot to force overtime, Montevideo elected to shoot another 3-pointer to go for the win.

Yet, Brooke Andries had other plans. The Tiger forward lept up and blocked the would-be game-winner as the buzzer rang to preserve Marshall’s lead.

“We’ve been involved in a number of close games already this season, and I thought both teams executed,” head coach Dan Westby said of his team’s ability to perform in the clutch. “That was a good, good team… those kids fought through and made it a close game, and we needed everything we had out there tonight.”

The block was one of two Marshall blocks in the game–the other coming from Simpson–but it came at a perfectly opportune time.

Simpson did a bit of everything for the Tigers. Her 15 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists were all team highs. Her 64% field goal percentage from inside the arc was the highest of any player on either team.

The Tigers came out flat and trailed by as many as 7 points in the game’s first five minutes, but they battled back quickly to take the lead. At halftime, the Tigers trailed 27-26.

“Both teams battled hard from the get-go, and I think the difference between this game and some of the other close games we’ve had this season is we just executed a whole lot better down the stretch,” Westby said when asked about how they were able to battle back. “I thought we did some things defensively, we figured a few things out.”

One of the challenges Montevideo presented to Marshall was defending Avery Koenen, who gave the Tigers some problems with her size on the offensive end of the court.

“It’s tough to stop her when she makes her mind up,” Westby said. “She’s a Division I player, she’s going to North Dakota State, and there’s a reason why. She’s the real deal… she’s just a tough, tough out for anybody.”

Lauren Wherry also finished in double figures for the Tigers, scoring 11 points on 4-9 shooting.

With the hard-fought victory over Montevideo, Marshall (7-4) has won three of their last four since a lukewarm start to the season.

The Tigers play again Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. when they host Brandon Valley (S.D.).

Marshall 57, Montevideo 55

MAR 26 31

MON 27 28

SCORING (FG-FGA-PTS): MAR (Simpson 7-14-15; Bednarek 4-7-12; Wherry 4-9-11; Randi Wendorff 3-6-9)

PASSING (AST-TO): MAR (Simpson 6-3; Wendorff 3-1; Taleigha Bigler 2-0)

REBOUNDING (ORB-TRB): MAR (Simpson 2-10; Andries 1-8; Leah Jones 6)

DEFENSIVE (STL-BLK): MAR (Wherry 1-0; Simpson 0-1; Bednarek 0-1)