Boxscore
CALDWELL, N.J. - Freshman forward Devonne Richardson's off-balance running jumper in the paint with six seconds left in the overtime period gave the Goldey-Beacom College women's basketball team a breathtaking, 73-72 road victory over Caldwell College Sat. night in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action.
The Lightning (8-8, 4-4 CACC), who took a 24-15 lead into halftime and never trailed until the 12:40 mark of the second half, let a five-point lead with 18 seconds slip away at the end of regulation which set the stage for a very entertaining overtime session.
Playing in its first overtime since Jan. 22, 2007 (an 86-81 win at Wilmington), the Lightning had to overcome a ferocious Cougar full-court press which had given them problems at the end of regulation. There were four ties in the extra period, with the last one broken by a pair of free throws from Caldwell center Gillian Felix that put the Cougars ahead, 70-69 with 31 seconds remaining. Freshman forward Irene Hudson answered for Goldey-Beacom with a lay-up at the 21-second mark, only to have Kirsty Leedham regain the lead for Caldwell with a baseline jumper with 14 seconds left. On the next possession, GBC beat the Cougar press and redshirt-freshman guard Ashley Rosario found Richardson streaking to the basket with just one defender to beat, and Richardson connected on an off-balance runner in the paint with six seconds on the clock for a 73-72 lead. That proved to be the game-winner, as Leedham's shot at the buzzer was off the mark.
Junior guard Janae Weldon was outstanding for the Lightning, scoring a career-high 26 points on 9-of-18 from the field including 6-of-9 from three-point range. Each time the Cougars began to claw their way back into the game, it was Weldon that answered with a three-point dagger.
Freshmen forwards Irene Hudson and Devonne Richardson gave the Lightning a huge lift as well. Hudson was 8-for-11 from the field for 16 points to go with six rebounds, and Richardson notched her third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds and also had a game-high six assists.
GBC head coach Jen Carleton earned her first win in three tries against her alma mater, as the Cougars fell to 9-7 overall and 5-4 in the CACC.
The Lightning got off to a quick start, opening up a 9-0 advantage nearly six minutes into the game and then a 13-3 lead at the 11-minute mark. They would extend that lead to as many as 15 (24-9) in the first half, but Caldwell would score the last six points of the half to pull within 24-15 as the horn sounded for intermission.
The Cougars rode the little momentum they had gathered at the end of the first half and tied the game 28-28 with a 13-4 run. The next GBC possession, the Lightning's leading scorer, redshirt-sophomore Jacinda Jones (six points, four assists) found an open Weldon who drained a three-point shot to put her team back ahead, 31-28.
Still, Caldwell would not go away as a fast break layup by Felix at 12:40 gave the Cougars their first lead of the game, 32-31. The two CACC rivals would trade baskets over the next few minutes until GBC opened up a 47-40 lead on the strength of two Weldon three-point field goals.
Caldwell's Torey Jones would score 10 straight Cougar points and bring her team within one (51-50) at the 3:45 mark, but a big three-point field goal by Jones and two free-throws by Weldon provided the Lightning a six-point cushion.
A jumper by Richardson gave the Lightning a five-point lead with 18 seconds left in the game, but five straight points by Leedham, including three consecutive free throws after she was fouled while putting up a three-point shot with two seconds left in the game, sent the game to overtime where the Lightning managed to come away with a thrilling conference road victory.
GBC will attempt to equal its win total from last season and climb above a .500 winning percentage for the first time this season when the Lightning host the top team in the CACC South Division, Holy Family University on Thurs., Jan. 28.
