HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Ottawa University women’s basketball team gave coach Bruce Tate a nice homecoming.

The Lady Braves picked up its first victory of the season with a 66-62 overtime win Thursday over Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo.

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Ottawa University women’s basketball team gave coach Bruce Tate a nice homecoming.

The Lady Braves picked up its first victory of the season with a 66-62 overtime win Thursday over Hannibal-LaGrange University in Hannibal, Mo.

Tate is a 1995 graduate of Hannibal High School.

It was Ottawa’s first overtime win since January 24, 2008, when the Lady Braves nipped Friends University, 59-58, in Wilson Field House.

The difference came at the free-throw line where Ottawa went 21-of-29, while Hannibal was 13-for-21.

Ottawa rallied late in the second half to force overtime.

The game was tied at 53-53 at the end of regulation. Hannibal led 25-22 at halftime.

Ottawa controlled the overtime, building a 62-55 lead and outscored the Trojans, 13-9, in overtime.

The Lady Braves defense forced 30 turnovers. Ottawa shot 39 percent from the field.

Senior guard Kelsi Meier paced the Lady Braves with a career-high 21 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the floor.

Junior forward Amber Ramsey finished with 17 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Lauren Buckles had 12 points and three assists.

Senior April Dowell led Ottawa with seven rebounds and also had seven points and two steals.

Ottawa (1-1) plays 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Olathe against NAIA Division I opponent MidAmerica Nazarene.

OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (1-1)

Kelsi Meier 7-12 6-8 21; Amber Ramsey 5-13 7-9 17; Lauren Buckles 4-10 2-2    12; April Dowell 1-7 5-7 7; Sarah Neptune 2-3 0-1 4; Hannah Thomas 1-1 0-0 2; Morgan Grammer 1-4 0-0 2; Angelic Frazier 0-1 1-2 1; Morgan Boore 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 21-54 21-29 66.

HANNIBAL-LAGRANGE (0-1)

Ashleigh Spencer 7-10 1-1 15; Maddy Cunningham 4-9 2-3 11; Kyla Smith 4-8    2-3 10; Kara Glor 3-7 2-2 9; Trenee Thornton 2-9 2-3 7; Morgan Winkler 2-3 3-6 7; Rebecca DeRidder 1-3 1-3 3; Totals 23-49 13-21 62.

3-point goals — Ottawa University 3-13 (Lauren Buckles 2-5; Kelsi Meier 1-3; Morgan Grammer 0-3; Amber Ramsey 0-2), Hannibal-LaGrange 3-6 (Trenee Thornton 1-1; Maddy Cunningham 1-2; Kara Glor 1-1; Kyla Smith 0-2). Fouled out — Ottawa University-None, Hannibal-LaGrange-Ashleigh Spencer.Rebounds — Ottawa University 31 (April Dowell 7), Hannibal-LaGrange 33 (Ashleigh Spencer 8). Assists — Ottawa University 10 (Morgan Grammer 3; Lauren Buckles 3), Hannibal-LaGrange 8 (Trenee Thornton 4). Total fouls — Ottawa University 20, Hannibal-LaGrange 24.