HOUGHTON, N.Y.—In a home opener to remember the Houghton Highlanders women's basketball team defeated the Hilbert Hawks (1-1) in triple overtime, 71-69.
 
The difference for the Highlanders was timely defense, timely shooting, and a long bench.
 
Throughout the fourth quarter the game seesawed back and forth with neither team leading by more than two points at any time. 
 
Down by two with only 56 seconds on the clock, freshman point guard Brittany Lenart (Panama, NY, Panama HS) hit a layup to tie the game and send it into overtime.
 
In the first overtime neither team could gain traction, and the teams once again never parted by more than two points. 
 
This time, with Houghton leading by one, Shannon Rogers nailed a free throw for the Hawks with three seconds remaining to again extend the game.
 
In the second overtime period Hilbert began to break away, building a six point lead with just over a minute to play.
 
After Madison Detwiler (Williamsburg, PA, Williamsburg HS) sank two free throws Hannah Manwaring (Barton, NY, Tioga Central HS) drilled a deep three to pull the Highlanders within one.
 
The teams exchanged free throws before Esther Webb (Houghton, NY, Fillmore Central HS) sank the second of two from the line to knot the score once more, sending the game into a third overtime.
 
During the overtime periods the Highlanders saw two of their starters foul out of the game while the Hawks lost three.  The depth of the bench on either side would determine the outcome, and on this day, the Highlanders subs would help seal the victory.
 
With the Hawks leading scorers on the bench and the Highlanders down a point, Webb found freshman Leslie Moose (Swain, NY, Canaseraga HS) in the paint for the game-winning layup with 1:29 left on the clock.  A free throw by Manwaring added a small cushion before the final horn sounded.
 
The Highlander bench would outscore the Hawks 13-9 on the night.
 
Manwaring led the Highlanders with 15 points, while Moose and Lenart added 14 and 12, respectively.  Maisie Pipher (Lowman, NY, Twin Tiers Christian) collected a double-double, scoring 12 and adding 12 rebounds.  Detweiler also pulled down 12 boards on the night.
 
For the Hawks, Shannon Rogers and Katelyn Proy both contributed double-digit points and rebounds, and Kelsi Ebert scored 14 points.

The Highlanders next travel to SUNY Oswego on Friday, November 20 for the Max Ziel Tournament where they will take on Alvernia University at 5:30 p.m.