Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Maryland Eastern Shore
Bucknell Holds Off UMES in Triple Overtime Thriller, 93-92
12/17/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 17, 2005
PRINCESS ANNE, Md. - Amanda Brown scored a career-high 20 points to lead four Bucknell players in double figures as the Bison women's basketball team held off Maryland Eastern Shore for a thrilling 93-92 triple overtime victory Saturday night at the Hytche Center.
In the first triple overtime game in the 33-year history of the Bucknell (4-4) program, the Bison held leads late in regulation and in the closing moments of the first two overtime periods, but could not hold on as the Hawks tied the score each time.
Bucknell led 58-53 in the final minutes of regulation after a driving layup by Lauren Schober, but Kristi Veltkamp made a 3-pointer and Toni Kennedy converted a short jumper in the final 90 seconds to tie the game. The Bison had the ball with a chance to win in the final seconds, but Kesha Champion double dribbled. The final score at the end of regulation was 58-58.
Bucknell's largest lead of the first overtime came at 68-62, but Toni Kennedy, who made five 3-pointers in overtime and seven in the game, connected on two in the final 30 seconds to tie the game at 68-68.
The Bison jumped out to a 79-72 advantage with less than 90 seconds left in the second overtime, behind five points from Lauren Schober, but Kennedy quickly made another 3-pointer, and a driving layup by Qiana Cheatham with five seconds left tied the score at 79-79 and sent the game to the record-setting third overtime.
The Bison scored the first three points of the final overtime on two free throws by Kesha Champion and one by Latham as DeVaughan Hailey was whistled for a personal foul and a technical foul. However, another 3-pointer by Kennedy and a jumper by Cheatham gave UMES (1-5) an 84-82 advantage to equal its largest in overtime to that point.
The Hawks did lead 89-85 before two free throws and a jumper by Champion tied the score at 89-89 with just over a minute to play to start an 8-0 run that gave the Bison a 93-89 lead.
After a steal of an in-bounds pass by Brown, Jacquie Seawright drove to the basket and a controversial blocking foul was whistled on Tiffany Reid. Seawright converted both free throws, which gave Bucknell a 91-89 advantage and continued the run, while Corrine Keller knocked down a pair of free throws to round out the scoring for Bucknell. Rachael Goodwin connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make the final score 93-92.
Bucknell's defense held UMES to just 10 points more than 13 minutes into the game as the Bison built a 22-10 lead behind a 14-3 run mid-way through the first half. The spurt featured five points each from Brown and Champion, including a length-of-the-court layup by Champion after a steal of a Kennedy pass. A wide-open jumper from the left wing by Brown concluded the run as Bucknell converted just two more field goals the final six minutes of the first half.
The Hawks took their first lead of the game at 26-25 on a 3-pointer by Kennedy, but Ashton Sprouse nailed a jumper to put the Bison back on top less than a minute later. Bucknell took a 29-27 lead into halftime, although a jumper at the buzzer by Brown rattled in-and-out.
In addition to Brown netting a career high, Champion had a career high with 19 points, while Schober netted 15. Keller, who tallied 13 points, posted a career high as well.
Starters Hope Foster and Ashton Sprouse fouled out in the first overtime and regulation, respectively, forcing Bucknell to go with a lineup of three freshmen for most of the overtime periods. Brown, Champion, Keller, Schober and Latham played most of overtime together. Champion, who made 7 of 21 from the field and shared ball-handling duties with Brown, Keller and Brown all played more than 40 minutes in the game.
Despite fouling out early in the first overtime, Foster led Bucknell with 10 rebounds, her fourth consecutive game with at least 10 boards. Schober grabbed nine, although the Bison were outrebounded by a 58-50 margin. Champion, Seawright and Brown each hauled in five boards, while Champion added a team-high five assists.
The key to the game was free throw shooting. UMES made just 16 of 39, while Bucknell connected on 22 of 31. Champion, Seawright and Schober combined to make 12 of 14. Veltkamp shot just 6 of 14 for the Hawks, while Natalia Benton was 2 of 8.
Veltkamp led UMES with 27 points, while Kennedy tallied 24, including 15 in overtime. Jamila Griffith scored nine points and pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds.
The 93 points scored by Bucknell was the most since a 94-point output against Holy Cross in the Patriot League Tournament in 2004.
The Bison won their second straight game without leading scorer Lindsey Hollobaugh. The junior co-captain suffered a knee injury two weeks ago against High Point.
Bucknell, which had not played an overtime game since the 2003 Patriot League Tournament, improved to 14-12 all-time in overtime contests.
Bucknell continues its road trip Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Cornell. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.
