Riverside, Calif. — La Sierra University's defense slammed the door in overtime as the Golden Eagles earned a 52-50 win over Park University Gilbert on Tuesday night.

After Park-Gilbert forced overtime on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the fourth quarter, La Sierra regrouped and found the go-ahead basket when Breonna Martinez drove for a layup with 3:56 left in overtime to make it 50-48. Sydney Wilson then delivered what proved to be the deciding point, drawing a defensive foul on a rebound and converting at the line to extend the margin to 51-50. Martinez later added the final point of the night at the stripe with 13 seconds remaining, pushing the cushion to 52-50—just enough as the Golden Eagles' defense protected the lead to the horn.

Akilah Watson paced La Sierra with 12 points, four steals and four rebounds in 24 minutes, anchoring a defensive effort that held Park-Gilbert to 20.3% shooting from the field (14 of 69) and 15.8% from 3-point range (6 of 38). The Golden Eagles shot 33.3% from the floor and 25% from beyond the arc, but made up the difference with 11 steals and four blocks while forcing 19 turnovers.

La Sierra set the tempo early, jumping out to a 19-9 lead after the first quarter. Emily Liu hit a 3-pointer to spark the opening surge, and Angeline Valdivia capped the frame with a late triple. Alexis Gonzalez added a second-quarter 3-pointer to extend the advantage to 22-14, but Park-Gilbert responded to close within 26-23 at halftime.

Watson helped La Sierra answer in the fourth, scoring on a layup with 8:36 remaining to put the Golden Eagles in front 39-35 as the defense tightened. Park-Gilbert stayed within reach behind steady free-throw shooting and timely plays from Hoar and Kalia, and with La Sierra up 48-45 in the final seconds of regulation, Kalia drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to tie it 48-48 and force overtime.

In the extra period, La Sierra delivered its cleanest defensive stretch of the night, limiting Park-Gilbert to just two points. But Wilson's late conversion and Watson's two-way impact ensured La Sierra held their lead in front of their hometown crowd. The Golden Eagles host Embry Riddle Aeronautical on Thursday as the second part of this 3 game homestand. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 PM in La Sierra University's Alumni Pavilion.