Basketball Edges Emerson in Overtime, 71-68
BOSTON, Mass. (Jan. 17, 2008) - Sophomore forward Jess Olson (Gilbert, Ariz./Highland) piled up 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Mount Holyoke College women's basketball team to a thrilling 71-68 overtime triumph over non-conference foe Emerson College this evening at the Piano Row Gymnasium. With the win, the Lyons improved their overall record to 3-10. Emerson dropped to 6-8.
Olson's double-double was her eighth of the season and 14th of her career. She dominated play throughout, making 6-of-11 shots from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. After forcing overtime with a three-pointer in the waning seconds of regulation, she scored eight of Mount Holyoke's 12 extra session points.
The Lyons shot 44.4% (26-58) from the field and dropped in eight three-pointers. Four players reached double digits in the scoring column for the guests. Senior forward Marisa Barone (Ludlow, Mass./Wilbraham & Monson Academy) totaled 15 points and nine boards, while first year guard Amber Sinicrope (Amherst, Mass./Amherst Regional) netted 14 points. Mount Holyoke also received solid production from junior guard Katie Austen (Mount Sinai, N.Y./Mount Sinai), who totaled eight points and a game-best six assists. Sophomore center Kate Shafir (Newton, Mass./Beaver Country Day) chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
Emerson converted 40.3% (27-67) of its shots from the floor and made five three-pointers. Junior forward Lauren Vassallo (Oxford, Conn./Seymour) paced the Lions with game-highs of 20 points and 16 rebounds. The hosts also received a boost from first year guard Kathy Andrade (Hull, Mass./Hull), who registered 12 points. Senior guard Lindsay DeStefano (Glocester, R.I./Ponaganset) added 11 points and five helpers.
The first half included four ties and three lead changes. Trailing 18-11 in the early going, Mount Holyoke scored 13 of the next 17 points to gain a 24-22 edge at the 6:34 mark of the opening frame. Emerson finished the half on a 12-5 run to take a 34-29 advantage into the locker room.
The Lions margin ballooned to nine points (48-39) following a layup by Vassallo with 12:42 remaining in the second stanza, but Mount Holyoke clawed its way back with an 11-2 spurt over the next seven minutes. Sinicrope's fourth three-pointer of the night evened things up at 50-50.
A jumper by sophomore guard Andrea Kosek (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) put Emerson in front 59-54 with 1:35 remaining in regulation. From there, Olson took over. She sliced the deficit to three points with a layup on the Lyons ensuing possession and nailed a three-pointer with 31 seconds left to send the contest to overtime.
Vassallo converted a conventional three-point play to give Emerson a 64-60 cushion early on in the overtime period. Olson got Mount Holyoke back on track with a trey, but Kosek rebutted with a layup to bump the Lions lead to 66-63. Refusing to give in, Olson drained another three-pointer to tie things up at the 1:38 mark of the extra session. She was fouled on a three-point attempt with 47 seconds left and drilled two of her three free throw attempts to put the Lyons in front for good.
Mount Holyoke (3-10, 0-2 NEWMAC) will round out a three-game roadtrip at Springfield College on Saturday. The New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tilt is slated to tip off at 8:00 p.m.
Game Statistics
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