ALFRED, N.Y. -- Houghton was unable to maintain a fast start, getting into a back and forth game with Alfred University, before falling 77-74 in overtime in an E8 women's basketball matchup.
The Highlanders jumped ahead early, racing to a 17-2 lead in the game's first eight minutes. But the Saxons slowly chipped away and gained a 28-27 lead with just over four minutes to go in the half. The Saxons kept that one-point advantage (34-33) as the teams headed into halftime.
Neither team could wrestle control early in the second half as the game saw four ties and six lead changes over the first eight minutes of the half. The host Saxons took the lead at the 11:36 mark and extended the advantage to six with just under 10 minutes to go. Houghton got buckets from
Hannah Fink (Coudersport, PA, Coudersport HS) and
Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) to cut the margin to two, and after a Saxon layup, Pipher converted another field goal and
Hannah Manwaring (Barton, NY, Tioga Central HS) knocked down a three and
Christel Enriquez-Fisher (Colorado Springs, CO, William Mitchell HS) hit a jumper to put Houghton up by three (65-62) with 3:15 to go.
Alfred knocked down another trey to tie the score and the teams exchanged buckets on ensuing buckets to knot the score at 67 each with 2:22 on the clock. Neither team was unable to get a bucket down the stretch, forcing an overtime session.
After Alfred gained a two point edge at the start of overtime, Enriquez-Fisher hit a jumper and Manwaring hit another three to put the Highlanders up by three. The teams continued to battle back and forth with the Saxons edging ahead 75-74 with two free throws with :22 left. Another foul sent the Saxons to the line where they converted two more free throws with five seconds left and extended the lead to 77-74.
Pipher led the Highlanders with a career-high 26 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Manwaring added 15 points and 11 rebounds, Fink finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Enriquez-Fisher had eight points and 11 rebounds. Houghton outrebounded Alfred, 56-40, but turned the ball over 27 times.
The Highlanders are back in action Saturday at Elmira for a 2 p.m. tip.
