SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The Carroll College Women's Basketball team needed extra time, but they found a way to outlast a talented Loyola (La.) team in overtime, earning a nail-biting 58-55 win in the Round of 16 at the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship on Thursday night.

The Fighting Saints (27-5, 14-1) finally got the proverbial "Monkey off their back", overcoming foul trouble to upend the Wolf Pack (26-5, 15-3) in a game for the ages in Sioux City.

The Sioux City blues are gone, and the Fighting Saints are into the NAIA WBB Championship Quarterfinals for the first time since 2008, and the first time under the leadership of Head Coach Rachelle Sayers.

Right from the tip, things looked bleak for the Saints. Carroll struggled in the game's opening quarter, shooting just 25 percent from the floor (3-12). Exaggerating the offensive issues, Carroll found their All-American in serious foul trouble early. Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) picked up two quick fouls, exiting the game quickly and Carroll would trail by 10 after one, 16-6.

Another early foul sent Pickens right back to the bench in quarter two, but Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont. / SR) took control. The senior guard was electric in the second frame, scoring nine of her game-high 16 points to help lead a furious Carroll comeback late in the half. Willa Albrecht (Billings, Mont. / R-JR) was a menace defensively, adding two steals, a block, and four points to help cut the Wolf Pack lead to just one heading into the break.

Out of the half, Keller continued her stellar play, matching any effort the Wolf Pack made at pulling away, scoring seven in the frame. Meagan Karstetter (Moses Lake, Wash. / SO) was the x-factor, stepping in and filling Pickens' shoes after she again was forced to the bench with a quick foul. Karstetter poured in six points and grabbed six boards, leading to a deadlock at 43-43 going into the fourth.

Neither team was able to break free in the final frame, with both defenses playing hard and severely limiting opposing chances. Eight points from each side, and an uber-tense scoreless final 30 seconds sent the game into extra time with the teams tied 51-51 after regulation.

Pickens played the entirety of the overtime period, stepping up in winning time. The Frontier Conference Player of the Year scored all seven points for the Saints in the overtime period, knocking down a clutch free throw with just two seconds remaining to extend the lead to three. One final chance from Loyola came up just short, and Carroll survived the upset bid, 58-55.

Keller was the most impressive player on the floor, finishing with a 16 point, 11 rebound double-double. Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) also found herself in foul trouble, but continued her great play in Sioux City with a 10 point, 14 rebound double-double. Pickens, limited in court time, still finished with 11 points and five rebounds.

Cailtin Travis and Taylor Thomas scored 16 and 14 points respectively to lead the Wolf Pack, while SSAC Player of the Year Sanda Cannady was held to just four points.

Up next, a rematch with a Dakota State team that knocked the Saints out of the tournament last season awaits Carroll. That game will tip at 2 p.m. (MDT) on Saturday, with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Visit www.carrollathletics.com for a preview of that game, and to stay up to date with everything going on in Carroll Athletics.