Merg's buzzer-beaters send UWW past Amherst

Eyeing the third buzzer-beater of her career -- and second in this game -- University of Wisconsin-Whitewater junior Mary Merg releases a shot with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime over a pair of Amherst defenders. Besides the overtime winner, Merg also hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to send the game to the extra session. (Banner Graphic/GRANT WIEMAN)

HOLLAND, Mich. -- Warhawk junior Mary Merg picked the right time to hit her second career buzzer-beater. Then she did again five minutes later.

Merg connected on three three-pointer baskets in the final 2:17 of regulation, including a buzzer-beater that forced overtime.

With the clock ticking down in a tie game, Merg then went coast-to-coast to hit a floater in the lane that dropped through the net just as the final buzzer sounded, sending Merg's University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to the NCAA national championship game with a win over Amherst, 64-62.

"It's kind of a blur to me," Merg said. "I just remember seeing a 2-on-1 fast break, and I remember thinking, 'I've got to take this myself.' ... I had no clue how much time was left when I took it."

Merg finished with 18 points, 13 in the last three minutes and in overtime.

It is UWW's (26-6) first trip to the national championship game since 2008.

"We just kept our focus," UWW coach Keri Carollo said.

It was the fourth-ever overtime game in the Division III national semifinal and the first since 2010 when Washington University-St. Louis beat Amherst 86-75.

UWW senior center Cortney Kumerow played the full 45 minutes, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Lisa Palmer had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Amherst was led in scoring by senior point guard Marcia Voigt, who scored 16 points on 7-of-23 shooting in 45 minutes. The Lord Jeffs did not make a single substitution in the second half or overtime.

"We left it all on the court," Amherst coach GP Gromacki said. "I just wish I did a little bit more to get them this win."

UWW trailed by 12 points with 3:02 left in the second half, then caught fire.

After trailing by one point at the break, Amherst took a lead on the first possession of the second half and never trailed again when time was on the clock.

Amherst (30-2) has made five consecutive Final Four appearances and lost in the semifinal game four times.

Merg hit a buzzer-beating three-point shot in the finals of the conference tournament this season to send the game into overtime, but the Warhawks went on to lose.

UWW will play in tonight's national championship game at 7 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland, Mich.