MEADVILLE, Pa.— The Allegheny Gators women's basketball team won a thrilling double-overtime game over Oswego State, 91-90, on day two of the Greg Richards '08 Memorial Classic Saturday (Nov. 13).
Olivia Barkley hit a pair of free-throws with just over a second on the clock in the second extra session to give the Gators their first win of the season.
The game featured 20 lead changes and 13 ties.
The teams went back-and-forth throughout the opening five minutes. The Gators started to pull away on the legs of a 6-0 run to gain an 18-15 advantage. In the final minutes of the half, the Gators offense came alive as they closed the quarter on an 11-0 run to own a 29-15 lead going into the second.
The Gator advantage expanded to 15 in the opening two minutes of the second quarter. They continued to control the pace of the contest as their lead never dipped below seven points. Heading into the locker room, the Gators led 40-29.
Emily Smith led the Gators in the first half with 12 points. She was a perfect four-of-four from three point territory.
Angela Martelli blocked three shots in the half.
Madison Caufield had six points while
Zoe Soilis and
Kiersten Librizzi had five apiece.
Michela Contestabile had a team-high four rebounds. The Gators shot 37.8% (14-of-37) in the opening half from the floor.
The Gators continued to roll in the third as a
Kiersten Librizzi three gave the Gators the largest lead of the game, 49-34, three minutes in. However, the Lakers responded with a 16-0 run to take a 50-49 lead in the final minute of the third. Right before the third quarter buzzer sounded, Librizzi hit a three from the corner to give the Gators a 52-50 lead heading into the fourth.
The teams traded the lead back-and-forth throughout the fourth quarter as the 10 minutes featured five ties and eight lead changes. The Gators gained the first real advantage with just over three minutes to play when Soilis drained a three pointer to give them a 70-66 lead. Thirty seconds later, Contestabile hit a lay-up to extend the lead to six. The Lakers answered with a lay-up of their own on the ensuing possession. A minute later, the Lakers came within one on a free-throw.
In the final 10 seconds of the game, the Lakers hit a three to tie the game at 72. The Gators had a chance for the win as the buzzer sounded but their attempt was no good, sending the game into overtime tied at 72.
The Lakers hit a three pointer to open up the first overtime session. Caufield brought the Gators within one with a pair of free-throws but the Lakers responded with a 4-0 run to push their lead five with just over three minutes to play. The Gators chipped away at the lead over the next minute of play. A Martelli lay-up with just under a minute to play gave the Gators the lead once again, 80-79. Oswego responded with a pair of lay-ups as they gained the lead once again, 83-80, with a minute to play. A Caufield free-throw brought the game within one. After a Laker turnover, Barkely hit a tough shot in the paint to tie the game at 83. Martelli blocked a lay-up attempt on the ensuing possession but the Gators were unable to capitalize on the opportunity, sending the game into a second overtime.
Similar to the first overtime, the Lakers took a three point lead early on. Caufield brought the Gators within one with a lay-up but the Lakers matched it on the ensuing possession. With two minutes to play, Soilis converted a pair of free-throw attempts to bring the score within one, 88-87.
With under a minute to play, Soilis gave the Gators a one point lead with a lay-up. The Lakers earned a trip to the free-throw line and hit both attempts to give them a 90-89 lead with 23 seconds to play.
Barkley drove hard in the paint and earned a trip to the free-throw line with just over a second left on the clock. With ice in her veins, Barkley calmly converted both free throws to give the Gators the thrilling win.
Soilis led the Gators offense with 16 points to go with five rebounds. Contestabile tallied a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, as well as four assists and a pair of blocks.
Emily Smith finished the game with 12 points and three assists. Librizzi had 13 points. Barkley accumulated 11 points and seven rebounds while Caufield had 11 points and five rebounds. Martelli was a savage on defense, blocking five shots while scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds.
Jazmen Moore assisted one a team-high seven buckets.
For the game, the Gators shot 35.6# from the floor (31-of-87), including 40.9% (9-of-22) from three point territory. They owned a slight edge in rebounds, 55-54. The Gator bench accounted for 27 points.
The Gators are back in action Tuesday (Nov. 22), traveling to Washington and Jefferson.
