Riverside, Calif. - The women's basketball team picked up their second consecutive and second overall victory of the season, with a 78-73 overtime win against Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, Massachusetts).
The afternoon affair started off with both teams playing an even first half. Neither team held more than a five point lead in the half. The Golden Eagles held a five point advantage on two separate occasions during the first frame, and the Lions led by as many as four points twice in the final minutes of the first half. But by the halftime buzzer, the two teams went into the locker room, tied at 34-34.
With the scored tied at 41-41, just under six minutes into the second half, the Golden Eagles put together an 18-4 run over the next five minutes, taking a 59-45 lead. But the Lions weren't about to go quietly, as they stormed back with a 17-3 run of their own to tie the score with 2:14 remaining.
After each team was unable to convert in the final seconds of regulation, the game headed to overtime in a 66-66 tie score. The Lions quickly took the lead by connecting on their first shot of the overtime period, but that would prove to be the final lead they would enjoy. Faith Fantroy connected on two clutch free throws in the final seconds to secure the 78-73 win.
The Golden Eagles were fortunate to come away with the victory after being outrebounded 56-41, in addition to committing 30 turnovers.
On the positive side, La Sierra was 15-of-31 (48%) in the second half and overtime to finish the game with a respectable field goal shooting percentage of 43-percent, including a stellar 9-for-20 from the three-point line (45%).
Faith Fantroy collected her first double double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with eight assists and three steals. Tina Fantroy led the team with 16 points, in addition to six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Kailee Maeda tied a career-high with 10 points in the victory.
For the Lions, Mhiah Vickers led all scorers with 27 points, while Nicole Greer tallied a double double of her own, with 14 point and 11 rebounds.
The women's basketball team will now take a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday, before returning to the court on December 4 with a road game at Pomona-Pitzer College.
