HOUSTON, Tx. - The women's basketball team pushed Lamar to overtime Wednesday night inside Sharp Gym but came up just short in a 63-60 Southland Conference loss. The game featured 16 lead changes and five ties before Lamar closed it out at the free throw line in the final seconds
HCU (8-19,6-14 Southland) opened the first quarter trading possessions early.
Grace Booth scored in transition and
Jordan Jackson added a jumper as the Huskies kept it tight, trailing just 10-9 at the end of one.
The Huskies controlled the second quarter. Booth scored inside and Jackson connected from three as HCU shot over 50 percent in the frame. A late layup from Jackson capped a strong run that sent the Huskies into halftime with a 28-16 lead.
Lamar (18-9,15-5 Southland) responded in the third quarter, shooting over 70 percent in the period. The Cardinals scored consistently in the paint to cut into the deficit, but HCU answered with baskets from
Madison Hurta and Booth to hold a 40-37 advantage entering the fourth.
The fourth quarter remained back-and-forth. Miner's tip-in and Booth's drives inside kept the Huskies in front, but Lamar converted inside and at the free throw line late. With the score tied 49-49, neither team converted in the final seconds, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, Lamar scored first from the line before Booth answered at the rim. Jackson hit two free throws to give HCU the lead midway through the extra period, but Lamar responded with a three and consecutive interior scores. Jackson drilled a three with six seconds remaining to cut it to two, but Lamar converted at the line to secure the win.
Booth led HCU with 21 points and seven rebounds, while Jackson added 16 points.
Kamryn McLaurin pulled down nine rebounds, and
Jo Oly recorded four blocks.
HCU returns to Sharp Gym on Saturday, Feb. 28, hosting Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m., followed by a Monday matchup against Texas A&M–Corpus Christi. The Huskies will then travel to Lake Charles for the Southland Conference Tournament beginning March 9.
