MCPHERSON ? Playing undermanned and on the road, the Haskell Indian Nations University women’s basketball squad claimed a solid 62-57 overtime victory on Tuesday against Central Christian College.

The Fightin’ Indians (6-8) built a 37-26 halftime lead, but a Central Christian rally late in the game forced the overtime period.

Haskell coach Phil Homeratha said he was pleased with the first-half surge, but he wanted his squad to shut the door.

“We’re playing tired yet, but we played a good first half,” he said. “We should have put them away.

“We went through a long dry spell, and they came back and caught us.”

Kateri Schaaf scored 18 points for the Indians, as did freshman reserve Lindsey Hust.

The Indians only dressed nine players, and Homeratha said Hust’s performance off the bench was vital.

“She’s kind of one you wind up and let go,” he said.

But offense wasn’t the difference Tuesday.

“Our defense won it; they came up with big steals,” Homeratha said. “They could have folded in overtime, but somehow they got together. It was a matter of outhustling.”

Haskell women 62, Central Christian 57, OT

Haskell (62)

Kateri Schaaf 18 6-15 4-5, Melissa Mossett 11 5-18 1-2, Melissa Catron 6 2-8 2-6, Delicia Gransen 1 0-3 1-2, Lisa Dixon 8 3-5 2-2, Lindsey Hust 18 6-16 5-9. Totals 62 22-65 15-26.

Central Christian (57)

Eileen Pratt 5 2-12 0-0, Annie Sherman 14 2-9 10-10, Eva Acevedo 0 0-4 0-0, Lyndsi Romero 14 5-17 0-2, Natalie Taylor 8 2-4 3-5, Tiffany Hargis 5 2-5 1-6, Demetria Jones 11 5-10 1-1. Totals 57 18-61 15-24.

Three-point goals — Haskell 3-9 (Schaaf 2-5, Hust 1-1, Catron 0-2, Gransen 0-1); Central Christian 6-28 (Romero 4-13, Taylor 1-2, Pratt 1-7, Sherman 0-5, Acevedo 0-1). Turnovers — Haskell 19 (Schaaf 5, Mossett 4, Team 3, Catron 2, Gransen 2, Dixon 2, Hust); Central Christian 22 (Acevedo 5, Taylor 5, Jones 5, Sherman 4, Pratt, Hargis, Team). Fouls — Haskell 17 (Mossett 4, Schaaf 3, Gransen 3, Hust 3, Dixon 2, Catron, Whitlow); Central Christian 20 (Taylor 5, Acevedo 4, Jones 4, Sherman 3, Romero 2, Pratt, Hargis). Fouled out — Central Christian: Taylor.