The New Mexico Military Institute Lady Colt basketball team lost their home opener to the Loving Falcons in a spectacular double overtime thriller, 47-44.

NMMI earned a slim lead in the first quarter, 12-7, thanks to six points each by senior forwards Olive Amechi and Paulina Sanchez.

Loving came back with a half-court trap in the second period, helping the Falcons cut that Institute lead to just three points by halftime, 21-18. Amechi was again the top scorer in the stanza, notching seven points as part of her team-leading 19.

In the third, the Lady Colts edged out their opponents with sophomore and senior guards Carolina Meza and Nikole Mendez dropping in clutch buckets down the stretch to help NMMI with the quarter, 10-9, and making it a 38-34 contest going into what normally is the final period of play.

Loving went to a full-court press in the fourth, forcing turnovers and earning several mostly uncontested lay-ups, taking a six-point lead with less than two minutes remaining.

But junior guard hit a pair of free throws, then got a steal and assist to senior forward Emily Spaniel.

With seven ticks left on the game clock and trailing by two, 38-36, the Lady Colt defense forced a turnover. Spaniel got the ball on the inbound play. In double coverage, she heaved the Hail Mary pass to Amechi waiting at the other end of the court. Amechi leaped to make the catch then got off a contested shot from just inside the free throw line, off the backboard and good, to tie it up 38-all and force the first extended period.

The two teams battled on defense in the first overtime, allowing just six more points, 41-41. NMMI senior guard Alahana Picos drained a pair from the charity stripe, and Spaniel had the other point, converting on the back-side of her two shots from the foul line.

With two of NMMI’s bigs, Amechi and Spaniel, out with five fouls, the Falcons managed a five-point run. Sanchez struck back with a final bucket for the Lady Colts, giving her 12 points on the night.

NMMI will be back at home tomorrow night to try and earn their first victory of the season, taking on Hondo High School at 5:00 pm in the Godfrey Athletic Center gym.

That game will be streamed live on KSVPTV.com: https://www.ksvptv.com/nmmi-high-school/.