URBANA, Ohio – Tyra James tied the school record with 38 points and
Sylvia Hudson scored 31, but it wasn't enough to stave off Fairmont State in Saturday's 105-98 overtime loss inside Grimes Center.
The final score was the largest lead of the game by either team in a tightly-contested, seesaw affair.
Urbana (15-9, 11-7 MEC) led 89-86 with 10 seconds remaining in regulation, but Fairmont State's Kamrin Weimer buried a 3-pointer with six seconds to send the game to overtime.
UU went cold in the extra period, shooting just 2 for 11 (18%), as the Fighting Falcons outscored the Blue Knights 16-9.
Kami McEldowney drained a three with under 20 seconds remaining to trim the deficit to 101-98, but the Falcons knocked down their free throws and held on to avenge a 17-point loss to Urbana in January.
James and Hudson each scored 12 points in the fourth quarter while pouring in 30 points against Fairmont State for the second time this season. They're only the second duo in MEC history to record 30-point efforts in the same game, and have now done it twice this season.
James, who is the league's leading scorer, finished with 38 points on 15-of-25 (60%) shooting while grabbing 10 rebounds with six assists for her 15th double-double. She joined Hudson and former standout Stephanie Davis ('18) as the only Blue Knights to score 38 points in a game. James is now within 20 points of breaking the school's single-season scoring record of 582 points.
Hudson logged the 35th double-double of her career with 31 points and 15 boards. The senior from Sidney is now within 40 points of the school's all-time career scoring record of 1,775 points.
Additionally,
Bailey Draughn reached double figures following a hot start in the first two quarters when she scored 10 of her 12 points. McEldowney chipped in with nine points and five boards.
Urbana went a season-best 25 for 26 (96%) at the free throw line.
The Blue Knights led by four at halftime as James, Hudson and Draughn combined for 40 of the team's 44 points.
In the second quarter,
Sa'Dera Johnson's layup capped a 9-2 run to put the Blue Knights ahead 31-27. Then, Urbana's largest lead of the night came midway through the second when a floater by
Kasey Knippen put UU in front by five, 35-30.
Fairmont State regained the lead with an 8-0 run after halftime which forced an Urbana timeout with 6:22 in the third.
Urbana would respond with its own 8-2 run as a fastbreak layup by Hudson put the Blue Knights up 56-54.
From there, it was a back-and-forth game and the Falcons would take a 67-63 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Fairmont State had five players score double digits, led by Brooke Kurucz who netted 22 points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Weimer and Sierra Kotchman each scored 21 points for the Falcons while Rachel Laskody had 19 points and nine boards. All three played over 40 minutes.
UP NEXT: UU hosts West Virginia State on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff at Grimes Center. The Yellow Jackets (9-15, 7-11 MEC) fell Saturday 93-81 at Davis & Elkins.
