PHOENIX – Homecomings are always nice, especially around the holidays, but Alexis Delgado's return home was a little extra sweet. The Phoenix native scored a game-high 22 points in Indiana State's 88-81 double-overtime win over host Grand Canyon.
 
Delgado's output also marked a career high as she led the Sycamores (3-0) back from a nine-point second half deficit in what seems to be standard operating procedure for these Queens of the Comeback.
 
This marks the third game this year (out of three) that Indiana State had to overcome a second-half deficit to a win. Only this time, Grand Canyon (1-3) required a little extra work as the Sycamores went to multiple overtime periods for the first time since 2006.
 
"I am ecstatic for Alexis," Indiana State coach Luke Scheidecker said as he filled in for head coach Vicki Hall. "I know her family was going crazy for her - I heard them. Nothing is better than to see that for her. She is a phenomenal kid and she is just doing it all for us. She carried us in the first half. To come home, do that in front of your friends and family and beat the school that is in your backyard, it is massive for her."
 
Delgado was joined by Ashli O'Neal and Tamara Lee as the trio each had 20-plus points in the game and they accounted for eight of the 10 3-pointers that Indiana State made in the game. Overall the Sycamores shot an impressive 47.6 percent from long range and hit 20 of 28 free throw attempts, including going 6-for-8 from the line in the second overtime period.
 
"They stepped up at the end and made the plays that they needed to and went to the line and knocked down the big shots that they needed to," Scheidecker said. "I am so proud of them. This is what it's all about and what I told them in the huddle. We have been doing 6 a.m. practices and this is where the mental toughness of that comes out - of waking up every morning and stepping up to that line when you are tired. We had girls step up and play tons of minutes tonight and that is why I am so proud of them. They made the plays when they needed to."
 
The host Lopes led by as much as nine in the third quarter and then held an eight-point lead with 5:24 remaining in regulation before O'Neal went on an 11-0 run alone with a pair of 3-pointers and a couple of layups, one of which included an And-1. Then trailing by two, O'Neal drove to the basket and scored the game-tying basket with nine seconds left in overtime. GCU would miss a game-winning 3-point attempt and the clock would run out in regulation even at 70-70.
 
But overtime alone wouldn't be enough. Tied at 75-75 following five extra minutes of play, the Sycamores jumped out to a three-point lead in the second overtime period before a 5-0 Grand Canyon run put the Lopes up by two. Then Delgado and Lee took over.
 
Delgado sank a 3-pointer to regain the lead and the two would go 6-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 90 seconds as GCU was forced to foul after missing multiple shots with three defensive rebounds all by Regan Wentland. A senior forward, Wentland grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and scored nine points.
 
Grand Canyon had four players in double figures and was led by Laura Piera's 18 points. The Lopes shot 53.4 percent from the field but only converted 12 of 26 free throw attempts and were out-rebounded by Indiana State, 46-36.
 
The Sycamores will face UC Irvine on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. ET/Noon MT in the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Classic. That marks less than a 24-hour turnaround for a team that just played two extra periods of basketball.
 
"That is what it's about in March - winning three games in three days," explained Scheidecker. "We are going to have to be able to do that in March so this will be a good test for us to bounce back and do this. We could have an overtime game in the Missouri Valley Tournament, so how are we going to respond? The important thing now is to hydrate and rest then turn around and play tomorrow. UC Irvine is a really good team so we are going to have to be ready to play."
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.