URBANA, Ohio – Urbana overcame a 10-point deficit with three minutes in regulation to clip first-place Charleston in overtime Wednesday night at the Grimes Center, 83-78.
With the win, Urbana (10-5, 6-3 MEC) extended its winning streak to four games while snapping a nine-game streak for Charleston (12-3, 7-2 MEC).
Tyra James and
Sylvia Hudson each scored 22 points to lead the Blue Knights. The dynamic duo entered the game as the highest scoring pair of teammates in Division II. Hudson posted her third straight double-double with 14 rebounds and also notched four steals, three blocks and three assists. She moved into third place in all-time career points at Urbana (733).
Additionally,
Kami McEldowney finished with 11 points while
Sa'Dera Johnson and
Lexie Wright were major contributors off the bench. Johnson recorded nine points and five assists and Wright had nine points and four boards.
The Golden Eagles were in control and led for nearly 37 minutes in regulation until Urbana stormed back on a 13-3 run to close the fourth quarter. After being held scoreless in the first half and to only four points entering the fourth, James scored seven points during the late run including the game-tying layup with seven seconds remaining.
James scored 13 of the team's 21 points in the fourth quarter and tacked on five in overtime as Urbana outscored the Eagles 12-7. The shot to force overtime was set up by a rare Hudson 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, 70-69, with 11 seconds.
Then, Charleston's Brooklyn Pannell went 1 for 2 at the free throw line to set up James' tying bucket.
In overtime, McEldowney and Hudson recorded the first two baskets and the Blue Knights never trailed again.
Pannell led four Golden Eagles in double digits with 14 points, six rebounds and four steals while Anna Hayton had 13 points and six boards.
Urbana had 13 turnovers in the first quarter and eventually trailed by as much as 11 in the second when Charleston went up 34-23. But, a 13-2 run by the Blue Knights right before halftime tied the game at 36. The Golden Eagles clung to a 42-40 advantage at intermission.
Both teams shot 42 percent overall from the field, but Urbana shot it better at the charity stripe by knocking down 14 of 16 (87.5) Charleston made 14 of 22 (63.6) free-throw attempts as the squads were whistled for a combined 43 fouls. The Blue Knights held the slight edge in rebounding, 46-42, while both teams had over 20 turnovers.
UP NEXT: Urbana opens a three-game road swing with Saturday's 2 p.m. tipoff at West Virginia State (6-9, 4-5 MEC). The Yellow Jackets fell 95-85 at Notre Dame College Wednesday night.
