Meagan Stover (Sr., Lake George, N.Y.) scored eight of her game-high 24 points to open overtime to lift the Oswego State women's basketball team (9-1) to a 63-51 win over the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg (5-7) in the consolation game of the Catholic University Courtyard US Capital Holiday Tournament Monday afternoon.
Stover also added seven rebounds, five blocks, and two steals to the stat sheet. Kari Kipper (Sr., Loudonville, N.Y.), who poured in 16 points, was named to the All-Tournament team.
Pitt-Greensburg ripped off nine unanswered points during a two-minute stretch to take an 11-5 lead with 14:25 remaining on the clock. Kipper drained a pair of free throws and a trey to bring the Lakers back within one point. Oswego State continued to build momentum as Coach Bruno's squad built a five-point advantage capped off by an Evelyn Josbena (Sr., Solvay, N.Y.) jumper. However, Pitt-Greensburg registered the next seven points to regain a two-point edge at 22-20 with 6:30 left in the first half.
By the end of the half, the Lakers battled back to take a three-point lead, 28-25, into the locker room after Paula Egelston (Jr., Fultonville, N.Y.) drained a jumper before the horn sounded.
The second half proved to be another seesaw affair that saw Pitt-Greensburg tie the game four times and each team seize the lead twice. With the score tied and 19 seconds remaining in regulation, Pitt-Greensburg had possession, but turned the ball over without getting a shot off. Oswego State called timeout with four seconds left, but the Laker three-point attempt missed to send the game into overtime.
That was when Stover took over the game as she recorded eight straight points to put Oswego State ahead, 56-48, with 2:19 to play. Pitt-Greensburg cut the lead to six points, but the Lakers sunk their final six free throws to seal the victory.
The Laker defense forced Pitt-Greensburg to shoot 0-for-10 from the floor in the extra frame, as Oswego State scored the bulk of its points from the charity stripe converting 10 of 12 attempts in overtime.
Pitt-Greensburg out-rebounded the Lakers, 22-10, on the offensive glass, but shot 24.2 percent on the floor (16-for-66) compared to Oswego State's 31.6 percent (18-for-57). Free-throw shooting also played a large role in the contest as the victors shot 81.5 percent compared to Pitt-Greensburg's 63.6 percent.
The Lakers return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 8, when they resume league play at Oneonta.
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