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PIKE CREEK, Del. – With their playoff positioning already set, the fourth-place Philadelphia University Rams and the third-place Goldey-Beacom College Lightning collided in an epic overtime clash at the Joseph West Jones Center, with Phila U. stealing an 85-81 win on GBC's Senior Night.
The Lightning (14-11, 12-6 CACC) put five scorers in double-figures and held a slight 41-38 rebounding edge, but the Rams (14-11, 10-8 CACC) showed even better balance with six double-figure scorers and better three-point shooting (39%-27%) and free-throw shooting (69%-58%).
Sophomore forward Irene Hudson led all scorers with 22 points on 10-of-15 from the field and also pitched in five rebounds and two assists. Devonne Richardson recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. She came close to a triple-double with seven assists as well. Jones was the fifth scorer in double-figures with 10 while also grabbing six boards and dishing three assists.
The Rams were led by guards Taylor Magnus (17 points, two assists, three steals) and Stephanie Agger (16 points, six rebounds, two assists), forwards Kristen Blye (15 points, eight rebounds) and Kate Brennan (11 points, eight rebounds), and reserves Samantha Morris and Taylor Peltzer who each scored 12 and grabbed three rebounds.
The Lightning were in position to earn their fourth consecutive win in the series and first-ever victory over Phila U. at the Jones Center up 73-69 with 1:09 left in regulation after a pair of Weldon free-throws. But a rebounding breakdown and bad clock management allowed the Rams to tie it in the waning seconds.
First, the Lightning forced a missed jumper by Blye and a missed put-back by Brennan only to allow a second offensive rebound by Magnus and send her to the line to shoot two with 53 seconds left to play. Magnus, who was 6-of-10 at the line for the night, sank them both to pull the Rams within two.
On the ensuing GBC possession, sophomore forward Akilah Sewell elected to launch an open three-point shot from out of her range rather than hold the ball and melt more clock. She was off the mark, giving the Rams the ball with time to tie or take the lead.
After a timeout, Phila U. inbounded and went into their offensive set. Agger, who led the Rams in the second half with 12, took the ball to the hoop but could not get a layup to go. Pelzter, however, was there for the rebound and her put-back to tie the game at 73 with two seconds left in regulation was good, sending the game to overtime.
The two teams traded baskets for the first three minutes of the overtime session, but with the score tied for the 13th time at 77 apiece, Taylor Magnus led Phila U. on a 6-0 run, scoring four of the Rams' six to give her team an 83-76 advantage with 24 seconds left to play.
After a GBC layup by Richardson, Magnus went to the line and sank another pair of free-throws to seal the victory.
The Lightning, who fell to 0-2 in overtime games this year, will travel to Orangeburg, N.Y. on Fri. to take on Dominican in both teams' regular season finale. The Chargers will be celebrating Senior Night as they play for their playoff lives against GBC. With a win they can clinch the fourth and final spot out of the North Division – otherwise, they need Post to lose to USciences.
GBC will attempt to earn the program's first-ever victory over Dominican at the Hennessy Center and gain some momentum going into the conference tournament. Regardless of Fri. night's outcome, the Lightning are in the quarterfinals playing at No. 2 seed, USciences at 7 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 28.
