Dec. 28, 2007

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PHILADELPHIA - Carlene Hightower scored six of her game-high 28 points in the extra session to lead the La Salle University Women's Basketball team to a dramatic 75-70 overtime come-from-behind victory over Sacred Heart Friday afternoon in non-conference action at Tom Gola Arena.

 

Trailing by as many as 12 points in the second half, La Salle mounted a come back and got to within four points. However, Sacred Heart's Kaitlin Sowinski put the Pioneers up 63-58 with one made foul shot with 33 seconds left.

 

It looked like the game was over when, on the ensuing inbounds play, La Salle turned the ball over, and all the Pioneers would need to do was inbound the ball and convert their free throws to escape with a win and hand the Explorers their third straight loss at Tom Gola Arena. Easier said then done.

 

Sowinski took the inbounds pass and was fouled, but after was called for a technical foul for throwing an elbow. Sacred Heart still led by five, but she missed both of her free throws and Melanie Gibbons converted two on the other end to pull La Salle to within 63-60.

 

The Explorers got the ball and Jamie Walsh knocked down a three with 14 seconds left to tie the game and the Pioneers did not get a shot off before the buzzer and the game went to overtime.

 

In the extra frame, Hightower knocked down four straight foul shots to turn a two-point deficit into a two-point lead, but it was all tied up again at 69-all after Stephanie Ryan scored on a lay-up with 1:55 left.

 

Gibbons hit a 16-foot jumper as the 30-second shot clock was winding down, and after Liz Gruber made just one of her free throws on the other end, Hightower scored to put La Salle up three with 57 ticks left. Margaret Elderton sealed the win with a short jumper with 15 seconds left to extend the Explorers winning streak to three games.

 

Four Explorers scored in double figures, led by Hightower, who also added six rebounds, five steals and three assists to her totals. Walsh scored 18 points, while Gibbons added 13 points and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds, and Elderton had 12 points and five boards.

 

Sacred Heart (6-6) had two players with at least 20 points as Ryan registered a double-double with 24 points and 10 boards, and Sowinski had 20 points, seven blocks and six rebounds.

 

The Pioneers were in control for most of the game, as La Salle only led 4-0 early. Sacred Heart led by nine at the break, held its largest lead at 12 (48-36) after a Ryan three with 12:40 remaining, and was up 10 (62-52) after another Ryan three with 2:50 left in regulation.

 

But the Explorers battled back and for the second straight game, erased a double-figure second half deficit to record the victory. It was also the Explorers third straight overtime victory - as they went 2-0 last season.